tag:minkaibrown.com,2005:/blogs/nuggets?p=3 Nuggets2018-12-27T13:55:48-06:00Minister Kai Brownfalsetag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/58224642019-07-12T12:55:36-05:002021-03-10T20:27:07-06:00Pastor Bee's Be's of Being a Servant<p><span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(52, 152, 219);"><strong>Pastor Bee’s How to Be when serving in the Spiritual (motivational) Gift Of Serving (Ministry) </strong></span></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">1. <strong>Be Alert</strong>- Pray that the Holy Spirit leads.. “Show me the need and how to serve” </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">2.<strong> Be Kind</strong>-<strong>Be considerate and Be gracious</strong>…Watch how you speak to folks and how you handle them </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">3. <strong>Be Generous</strong>-Be generous but know that you are not responsible to meet every need that a person may have. Some folks might try to make you feel that way. Newsflash… <span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><strong>Only God can meet every need. </strong></span></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">4. <strong>Be Joyful</strong>- We are to serve with a joyful heart.. We should inspire others to praise and give thanks to God.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">5. <strong>Be Flexible</strong>- God may have you serve in a way that you are not familiar with or serve a people that you don’t like. He may lead you to use methods that you have never seen or heard of. OBEY!</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">6. <strong>Be Available</strong>-Don’t hide behind false humility when you are asked to serve or minister in a way that you don’t want or may challenge you. <strong>This ministry needs the gifts and ministries of those who are gifted and willing to serve.</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">7. <strong>Be serious </strong>and diligent about seeing a project or mission to completion- Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked or spread too thin. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Let me seal this with scripture… Take this how it hits you… <strong>Colossians 3:23-24 <span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><em>23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. </em></span></strong>It is the Lord Christ you are serving.</span></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/55710302018-12-27T13:55:48-06:002021-02-01T22:38:43-06:00Ground Fighters<p><span style="color:#dddddd;"><span class="font_large">This is for the one who has found themselves feeling flustered, flattened and just down-and-out, I promise you’re not alone. We can get so focused on all the things that need to be done that we can’t see we are coming undone. We can’t see, hear or remember a lot of things. Like the disagreement we are about to step right into, the whisper of God’s voice trying to give guidance, and where did we put those car keys that are right there in our hand. We like to think, we’ve got this. We are strong. We can do it ourselves, because that’s what the world is preaching at us. But I’m over here considering that just maybe the world is wrong. Motivational messages or memes on Facebook won’t settle a mind that has wandered from the truth of God. The enemy wants us to think we can do it all ourselves, because he knows we can’t. He knows when you’re tired, you’ll be too delirious to discern. He knows that when you’re distracted, you won’t notice the right way to turn. He knows when you are so worn out and not focused, it drowns out God’s whispering voice and your flesh won’t make the right choices. Is there anyone that I am talking to been so overwhelmed you couldn’t see his schemes? Thank goodness we have access to a never-ending peace, love and joy supplier. Sure, some try to handle stress with booze, food or acting a flat out fool. But the drinks run dry, mint-flavor Tums can get expensive, and the tearing up stuff is only satisfying for 5 … maybe … 20 seconds. <strong>2 Chronicles 7:3 says, “When the Israelites saw … the glory of the LORD … they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD …” </strong>Have you been too distracted to see God’s glory? Sometimes the reason for our struggling season is that we need to be humbled enough to see Him. When the enemy has stripped me of my sanity, God tends shows up and show out. That is what’s so absolutely amazing and exciting about being a child of God. Every scheme of the enemy only brings us that much closer to realizing who we belong to. When he breaks us, God can finally be the strength in our weakness. The crazy thing is when we are broken, our knees hit the floor and our faces rest on the ground where His voice is the only sound. God’s peace never runs out. He is good. His love endures forever!</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#dddddd;"><span class="font_large"><strong>2 Chronicles 7:3 says “When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, ‘He is good; his love endures forever. </strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#dddddd;"><span class="font_large">When all Hell breaks loose around you, you can go to Go.. As a matter of fact, warn your adversary or your situation. Say it loud! “I refuse to be distracted. I’m taking it to God!” Get your knees to the pavement, face to the ground. We fight best from the ground.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#dddddd;"><span class="font_large"><strong>2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”</strong></span></span></p>0:41Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/55625902018-12-20T09:34:09-06:002018-12-27T13:42:13-06:00Choose Wisely<p><span style="color: rgb(52, 152, 219);"><span class="font_large">I was reminded of something that I have been saying a lot lately last night. I have been saying that we only have a few heartbeats in this life. That we need to be mindful because we don’t know when our time is up. Yesterday, I got news from a friend of one of my old soldiers that I was very close to, passing away. It was like a gut shot. I hadn’t seen him since Germany but found myself crying in my car as I got the news. He had made some life choices that may have ultimately played a part in him passing away. I know how choices come with a cost. I am about to make it personal. Every year at this time I think of my mother. My mother was a drinker. Drinking affected our family, my parents and their marriage, truth be told it shaped the course of our family in many ways. Many scars left behind to this day. . Drinking played a big part in her passing away. I had an uncle who for quite some time, he did drugs. Although he had finally stopped. The years of abusing his body, caused him to die. I know of folks who chose unhealthy habits, relationships, and ways who eventually, those choices cost them their lives in some way shape, or form. Some of us have lost our peace behind poor decisions, lost your joy.. Lost your way with Christ because of choices.. You only have a certain number of days. Every time you give a minute of your life to anything, you’re giving a piece of your life away. You’ll never get that minute back. When you give your time to something, you’re giving a piece of your life for it. That’s why I am saying every decision that we make comes with a price. Every decision will cost you either time, or money, or energy, or your reputation, or your talents, and resources. There’s always an investment that will be made when we make choices. Proverbs 20:25 says, <strong>“It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows”.</strong> It is a trap to decide without thinking first, to make a promise without considering, to make a commitment without first being sure of the cost. When I offer Christ to others, I often ask them to consider what they are doing. A commitment comes with it. A cost comes with it truth be told. I’m convinced that if they sincerely consider the words of Christ and the benefits that he offers if they place their faith in him, they will make the right decision. One of the truths of life is that it’s always easier to get in than to get out. It’s easier to get into a relationship than get out. It’s easier to get into debt than to get out. It’s easier to fill your schedule than fulfill your schedule. Easier to get into trouble than to get out. My nugget is short today. As I think of the decisions of those folks who I cared about that came with a great cost. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(52, 152, 219);"><span class="font_large">Marinade on this scripture… Don’t breeze over it… <strong>Proverbs 20:25 says, “It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows”</strong> There is a price tag with every decision. Consider if it’s worth it..</span></span></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/53822132018-08-10T10:30:36-05:002020-03-14T15:09:44-05:00Not Going Back To Egypt<p><em><span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><strong><span class="font_large">Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic Numbers 11:4-5 </span></strong></span></em></p>
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<p><span class="font_large">This is for the one who God has delivered from a bad place and because things aren’t sunshine and daisies, you may be questioning the journey that you are on…. When you are going through what feels like a wilderness experience, don’t make the mistake of<strong> “turning back to Egypt.” </strong>Instead, remember that God has something better for you ahead and keep pressing forward—regardless of the appeal of what lies behind you. For the Israelites, Egypt had offered an abundant supply of fish, leeks, and onions. There was no threat of starvation. However, Egypt was a place of bondage for God’s people. Viewed from the wilderness, Egypt seemed to have its good points. In truth, it was nothing compared to the freedom and abundance that lay ahead in the promised land. Israel had forgotten what it was like to be under bondage. They’d forgotten the misery of slavery. The many beat downs and the death and destruction of slavery.. How they were belittled and berated..They were deceived when they thought of the seemingly good things they’d left behind in Egypt. Listen, when you are going through a challenging time, don’t make the mistake of recalling your Egypt. God would not lead you away from something and have you walk through a desert just to lead you back from where you’d come. No, God leads you away because He has something so much better ahead. He has a place of great freedom and abundance waiting for you. Your peace is not in Egypt.. You won't find joy in Egypt..<strong>Forget Egypt!</strong> Remember what got you in Egypt.. Meditate on the promise of a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey. Keep walking and stay focused. Trust God, and it won’t be long before you enter the good land He has prepared for you:</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><em><span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><strong>For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills … a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you” Deuteronomy 8:7, 9-10. </strong>.</span></em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><em><span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><strong>Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.. Numbers 14:3-4.</strong> </span></em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Most often, the first thing a drug dealer is tempted to do after being released from jail is to go back to slinging drugs. Due to their criminal background, they find it almost impossible to get a good job to provide for their families, so they go back to doing what they do best. Some women go back to dancing in strip clubs to feed their children. Some go back to the job they hated, to the man that cheated, beat on them, or stayed drunk but provided well, and the list goes on and on. No matter how desperate your financial status is right now, don’t go back to bondage. Slavery in Egypt seemed far better to the Israelites than having to rely on God in the wilderness. At their breaking point they preferred slavery and stability over freedom and uncertainty. You may be at your breaking point and are tempted to go back to the place God delivered you from because you see no other way, but hear the word of the Lord today: “There’s nothing for you in those old places where I delivered you. Don’t go back into bondage. Hold fast to My promise. If you hold on for a little while longer, I will make a way out of no way for you and your family. If you will obey Me and follow My ways, I will help you reach your place of promise. I will supply all your need according to My riches in glory in Christ Jesus. I am Jehovah-Jireh.. your provider and I will keep My promise to you.”</span></p>
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<p><strong><span class="font_large">I dare someone to declare " I AM NOT GOING BACK TO EGYPT!"</span></strong></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/53810002018-08-09T14:05:41-05:002019-09-25T08:55:15-05:00Not Today Satan!<p><span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><em><strong><span class="font_large">Matt 16: 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." </span></strong></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(52, 152, 219);"><span class="font_large"><strong>This is for the one who keep entertaining the things of the world. Those who have purpose but continue to be behind the power curve or simply spinning your wheels. The word tells us that we are not ignorant of Satan and his devices but we sure keep actin ignorant. Here we have Jesus who clearly explains his mission and the days to come and Peter makes it about him. Trying to be more than he is. Jesus could have easily entertained the conversation but he cut it off with a quickness and called a spade a spade. Some of us entertain the world way too much. We entertain godless people way too much. We are attracted to sinful deeds way too much. Jesus had a knack for shutting the enemy down. How did he do it. He spoke the Word. Even in his weakest moments He used his Fathers Words. When tempted in the wilderness he handled Satan with a series of "it is written" statements. Even when Satan tried the “you are supposed to be statement. Ya'll know how folks who are jacked up like to throw the "You're supposed to be a Christian or Supposed to be a Minister." line at you.. All because they don't have the guts to strive for holiness. Stop entertaining the "you are supposed to be" when you supposedly already know who you are. That’s another trick of the enemy. That is misery trying to get you to join it’s company….We need to stop dancing with the devil. Dabbling in sin and we see him moving, call a spade a spade. Don’t act like the world when you’ve overcome the world. James 4:7 says that if we resist the Devil, He will flee from you.. Let your statement to ignorance, to sin, to evil, to foolishness be… Simply today… Not Today Satan</strong></span></span></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/50578422018-02-02T10:32:33-06:002021-03-10T20:29:05-06:00Stop Playing The Game...<p><strong><span class="font_large">I want to talk to my young people this morning. I had you on my mind and wanted to see if we could vibe. So many of you know of God and have either read of heard of HIS promises and yet you keep playing this game with him and his feelings. In HIS WORD it states that it is his desire that none be lost. HE even sacrificed his son for us all, yet the game is constantly played. He reveals HIMSELF to you and you tend to only want him when storms come or when pain is in your life. I thought of the game of when kids go to a house and leave a bag of dog poop at the door on fire, ring the door bell and the owner comes out to greet the unknown visitor and finds a bag of fire at the door. They quickly without thinking stomp out the fire to find it was a bag of poop and a game played by some very disrespectful kids. Sooner or later they sometimes develop a bad taste for kids in general. Isn't that like some of us? We run to God knock on HIs door with our tears and pain.. Promise to live our lives for HIm and when he shows up you run away, leaving him all of your crap. Hopefully HE doesn't develop a bad taste for us. Why play the game? God makes HIMSELF accessible and yet his feelings are being toyed with. How many of you use this great venue of Facebook to share Christ or are you simply here looking for a boo or drying out your dirty laundry? I'm talking to those of you who once said "Lord, I surrender or Lord I need you... Lord Help me!". There is a scripture that lets us know that God has given us access to HIM. Here it is:" And I say unto you, <em><span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);">Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you</span></em>." He again and again comes to your rescue and you run away back to gather some more crap to dump on HIM. We need to Know that He not only will bless, but He will judge and punish.. He is not the one.... This isn't a sunshine and daisies type of post.. I just want to say, Stop playing with God..</span></strong></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/50205082018-01-12T11:03:39-06:002019-10-02T06:37:20-05:00FRET NOT<p><span style="color: rgb(52, 152, 219);"><span class="font_large"><strong>One of the great don’ts in our lives is to not Fret… It gets us all out of whack mentally and spiritually.. It is easy to day don’t Fret but having the nature to not fret is on another level. Scriptures says to rest in the Lord and we can preach it until all hell breaks loose around us. Resting in the Lord cannot be dependent upon circumstances but on a true relationship with God himself. Newsflash, Worry always results in sin. Some people tend to think that a little worry and anxiety are indications of how wise and aware we are but truthfully, they are indications of how wicked we are. Fretting arises when we are determined to have things our way. We never saw Jesus worry and he was never anxious. This is because his purpose was never to accomplish his own plans but the plans of the Father. In the life of a child of God, fretting is simply wicked. How dare we sit there and ponder that our circumstances are too much for God to handle. Time to put your opinions and speculations aside and to abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY. Intentionally tell God that you will not fret about anything that concerns you. The only reason you fret is because you foolishly made plans without</strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(52, 152, 219);"><span class="font_large"><strong>God Psalm 37:7-8</strong></span></span></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/48028152017-08-04T12:18:59-05:002017-08-04T14:56:16-05:00Today's Nugget... 4 August 2017 ... Topping You Off<p><span style="color: rgb(221, 221, 221);"><span class="font_large">As I was filling up my vehicle this morning. Preparing to put on some miles, I thought of so many folks that I know. ...Empty.. They have let life run them completely down. All you hear are their stories of pain, sadness and hopelessness. The news that they share is not the GOOD NEWS of the gospel but the local news.. National News... Tabloid news.. All of the sad and bad news... These folks who claimed to be “Believers”… I have read that the lips of a righteous man is a wellspring of life and also that it is best for us to speak life with authority, so today, I choose to do just that.. Hopefully, someone will join in on this.. I pray that someone gets to know </span></span><strong><span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><span class="font_large">MY GOD</span></span></strong><span style="color: rgb(221, 221, 221);"><span class="font_large">… For he is the God of </span></span><span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><span class="font_large"><strong>HOPE</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(221, 221, 221);"><span class="font_large">.. Hope that will sustain us… Hope that gives peace.. Hope that erases the plastic, fake smile and replaces it with </span></span><span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><span class="font_large"><strong>ALL JOY</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(221, 221, 221);"><span class="font_large">… Hope that totally takes over, regardless of how bad things may look or feel. If it’s you that are running on empty or feel like your tank is without life or the fuel to live, take this benediction as the prayer of life that I am praying over you…..</span></span> <em><strong><span style="color: rgb(231, 76, 60);"><span class="font_xl">Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN! Be Filled….</span></span></strong></em></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/48018132017-08-03T15:28:26-05:002017-08-04T12:07:33-05:00Act Like You Know<p><span style="color: rgb(192, 57, 43);"><span class="font_large">I want to take the time to hopefully encourage someone and help with their perspective. We see and hear the news. We see what appears to be the collapse of our society. Such a sad sight. We have senseless killings… Hatred is on the rise… Our elected officials are not living godly lives and not doing what they said that they would. For the first time in my life, I read of a travel advisory for a state that has to do with color and gender. Words of Jim Crow laws being enacted. Is it true? I hear so many speak as if they are tired of trying. Tired of trying to the right way. Folks appear to find it easier to give up and quit. Can’t beat evil, so why not join evil. The rest simply stand around and complain. The children of light have hidden their light source. To the ones who have not given up yet, I want to encourage you to not give up on God. Don’t evacuate the scene so quickly.. We say that God is…. He is All knowing.. Ever present.. And All POWERFUL….. Trust that HE sees… He knows.. Better than we do…. Trust that HE loves his creation and is simply waiting for the perfect time to fix this mess that we’ve made, as HE has done many times before when our fore parents messed it up… </span><strong><span class="font_large">Don’t forget that HE IS GOD… HOLD YOUR POSITION…. Act like you Know! The Lord is the everlasting God… Okay… let me just give you the WORD.. </span></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(192, 57, 43);"><strong><span class="font_large">Isaiah 40:28-31</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(192, 57, 43);"><strong><span class="font_large">28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(192, 57, 43);"><strong><span class="font_large">29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(192, 57, 43);"><strong><span class="font_large">30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(192, 57, 43);"><strong><span class="font_large">31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.</span></strong></span></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/47629962017-06-30T15:08:52-05:002017-06-30T15:08:52-05:00Today's Nugget... LIVE<p><a contents="Today's Nugget... LIVE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/3KoepZIFGCE">Today's Nugget... LIVE</a></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/47587942017-06-27T10:58:50-05:002021-01-24T03:53:47-06:00What Kind of Sheep are you?<p><span style="color: rgb(41, 128, 185);"><span class="font_large"><strong>Hey Family, </strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(41, 128, 185);"><span class="font_large"><strong>I recently read what I thought was one of the coolest reading about sheep and shepherds. It made me think today and I got a nugget for someone. It may not be you but someone reading this will grow from this. I am first going to ask, what kind of sheep are you? Are you one who has to be driven or led? … Got you thinking huh?… I read that sheep really need a shepherd. Without a shepherd, the sheep, if in a large pasture would literally eat themselves to death.. Sheep need a shepherd to make them lie down in green pastures so that they don’t eat themselves to death. I’m told in the West, shepherds drive their sheep where they want them to go. They stand at the rear of the flock and they have dogs that they use, to bite at the heels of the sheep in order to get them to move in the direction that they want to drive the flock. I read that Eastern shepherds lead their flocks from the front. This is how I see Jesus with us. I will back this up with scripture in a bit for you that like to dissect what is being put forth. While the shepherd rests, the flock eats.. Then when the shepherd stands up, says a few words and starts to move, the flock humbly and obediently follow. This made me think of our Lord when HE said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Folks you gotta know this… Without a shepherd, we become scattered and lose our way.. Some of us die.. When looking at scattered flocks of sheep, things get violent. The Rams raise against each other and begin to butt heads to see who is going to be in charge of the scattered flock. The one with the hardest head ends up in charge. Without the Lord in our lives, we find ourselves at the mercy of hard headed, driven people, or we wander without purpose or sense of real direction. Eating ourselves to death.. What I mean by that is feeding on the things of the world and our flesh. Killing our spirits. If we walk by the spirit then, we live led lives and not driven lives. No one will make you walk in the spirit, nor in the flesh. We choose freely. So are you led by the spirit of God or driven by fleshly desires? What kind of sheep are you?</strong></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: rgb(41, 128, 185);"><span class="font_large"><strong><a href="http://www.minkaibrown.com">www.minkaibrown.com</a></strong></span></span></p>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/42108752016-06-03T11:14:06-05:002016-06-05T19:04:37-05:00Cost Free Insurance... Yours if you want it..<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>I had been watching things around me, some of my people and my community go a little out of place. I have witnessed little things that been going on that could cause havoc in my ministry, life and the life of those that I love. It seemed to be something here and there. The first thought at times was to panic. I even became emotional a few times. Then the Spirit of the Lord spoke to me. I was reminded of my Insurance policy... See when we have great insurance, we don't need to worry about the mishaps of life. We don't worry about troubles as they come, because we know that we possess a policy that covers all of those things. I took a look at my life... My ministry.. My marriage..My children... All covered... Even when violent storms come through and create damage... Covered. When I follow the policy, and it's instructions, I even become more fortified and protected. It's like having the ADT sign in front of your home, it deters some would be intruders from even considering invading our space. Sometimes we put the sign up and we expose ourselves to such issues. But even then, the policy covers restoration and renovation. I recalled my policy last night, while resting in my bed. I read it this morning. A sense of calm has come over me, in reference me, my ministry and my family.. I am totally at peace with whom my policy is given by. My insurance company will never fold... Never rip me off.. Never not come through. It was signed in blood. Mine and the owner of the company... I want to share my policy with you today... I urge you to switch companies if you don't have a policy or if you don't have FULL COVERAGE.. do it right now for the sake of your family, your ministry, your finances... Your life... Here are a few lines from the policy: You first must Agree to the following:</strong></span><br><br><br><em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.<br>2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust After committing to the policy, then comes the coverage:<br>3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.<br>4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.<br>5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;<br>6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.<br>7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.<br>8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.<br>9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;<br>10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.<br>11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.<br>12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.<br>13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Here are some more promises granted by the policy writer, to all who possess the policy:<br>14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.<br>15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.<br>16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.<br><br>Psalms 91</strong></span></em><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>I am so glad that HIS WORD is hidden in my heart, because in tough times, it comes through.. I feasted on this.. I wanted to share with someone else who may be in need of the best insurance policy available.</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/41757042016-05-11T13:37:53-05:002016-05-12T20:14:09-05:00My Simple Take on Worship<span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><span class="font_large"><strong>I was studying and thinking today about how marvelous heaven will be and the things that we will do there. Then it hit me. So many things that we do down here won't be necessary in heaven. I won't have to do any evangelistic work there.. Won't need to share the gospel there..Praying as we know it now won't be the same. No need for discipleship.. The one thing that we do down here, that we will be doing there is WORSHIP..... Ever thought about that? Worshipping is to place worth on something. We will be worshipping God... Who is more worthy? We need to be doing that right now so that it is perfected. I worship HIM not only for who HE is but what HE has done and is doing. Not just because of HIS attributes but also his activity in my life.. HE did what no one else could do... Created all things.. And most of all because of the redemption that took place through HIS son Jesus Christ.. You don't have to be worked up to worship HIM. Doesn't take some significant act of a person or thing. The WORD says that we are to worship in spirit and in TRUTH. So if you need your favorite song to get you there or a fiery prayer, you ought to think things over. Isn't HE good enough all by HIMSELF?! My final point.. There is never a time when HE cannot and should not be worshipped.. Ask Job, David or Paul when he was in prison.. Try worship in your dark hours... Sometimes you just may get the miracle that you have been waiting for.. So, let's just worship HIM!!!!! I was in the book of Revelation Chapter 4 and I just came out if wanting to perfect my worship...</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/41578852016-04-28T15:07:56-05:002016-04-29T00:35:23-05:00Acceptance<span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><span class="font_large"><strong>I wanted to share a scripture with you. It is about acceptance. Whether you want to admit it or not, we all want to be accepted by someone. If no one else we want to be accepted by God. We tend to not accept certain people because they don’t fit into our mold of how “people” should be. We look at some folks as risks. You may think “if I associate with them then my standards will drop or my reputation can be ruined.” Don’t trip. We all have done it. Can’t let certain folks get too close. Can I paint a quick picture for you. Picture yourself from the perspective of God’s eyes. Did HE not take a risk by accepting you? Were you or are you that squeaky clean or trustworthy to do what is right in HIS sight? Pause for a minute and think it over. Some of us are bad risks for intimate relationships because of certain fears and walls we have put up. Try to remove judgmental eyes and replace them with empathetic eyes. This allows us to compassionately focus less on protecting ourselves and learn to reach out to others in love. We will be more concerned about how we treat others. God will produce a level of trust that we never had before. We will learn though HIM, who we can trust and how much we can trust them. We will learn to even love those who we cannot trust. Nugget… God accepts us.. Flaws and all.. We must be able to do the same when it comes to others. We need to stay real with them but also be willing to try to build relationships. Pray on that..</strong></span></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="font_large"><em><strong>Today’s scripture: Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory." Romans 15:7</strong></em></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/40714862016-03-03T14:35:42-06:002016-03-04T09:57:20-06:00Yakkity-Yak<span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large">I recall having a conversation with some of my fellow ministers some years back. In conversation I heard how some thought that they were better than others because of the “minister” title. I even heard one say how he felt intimidated around others who were in ministry longer. Made me think. I had to speak up. Some liked what I had to say and others didn’t. Look, by definition, the word minister is no position of higher authority… It is defined as being a servant. They were privileged with carrying the word of God but they were merely servant. I hear folks brag on how large their congregation is or how enormous their anointing is… How gifted they and their families are… Yakkity yak…. They have acquired documentation in order to say that they have </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong><span class="font_large">“mastered the Bible”… </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large">Throw up their degrees and stuff. were the flashy religious garments...They talk and talk and talk…. No need for folks to talk of them because they do enough for themselves. It’s sometimes sickening.. Well, I wonder if they read the scripture which states “The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.” That is from Psalm 12. I want to say this. </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><span class="font_large">Though you are saved, you aren’t better than anyone</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large">.. You are just better off. Being a minister, a Pastor, an Apostle or whatever your calling is, isn’t a reason to be braggadocious and prideful, but a reason to find comfort and to serve. I’ve seen so many, who have worn their titles and accomplishments as badges to show off, turn out to be ill equipped and soft at the sign of real pressure.</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/40322522016-02-09T09:30:48-06:002016-02-22T13:47:57-06:00IT AINT OVER!!!!<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">Today, I looked at a familiar text. I have been thinking about the text. We all have a race to run. Sadly, we are not always in full stride and focused on the finish line. We spend so much time looking in the other lanes.... Let me say this and hope that someone grabs this nugget. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>Let’s focus on our own races.</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"> So many of us think that if we are looking better than the next guy, that we are doing great. No, no, no…. God is not going to measure us on how we compared to others. He is going to judge us on our own merits. Check it out.. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>The race aint over</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">. You may have won yesterday but today is a new day and the race continues. No time for slacking or rubber necking. Are you running or are you still basking in yesterday’s news? Sulking over the conditions of the race? The prize of the high calling is yet before us. No time to pose for pictures…No time to faint. Keep pressing. If you stumbled, <strong>PRESS ON</strong>… Fallen.. <strong>PRESS ON</strong>… Lost a little ground and got tired… <strong>PRESS ON!</strong> I am so grateful for the strides made but I still have a race to run so I am shifting my focus towards the source of my help. I may not like the conditions of the current race but I still plan on running. Not trying to delay things.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong> I AM RUNNING!</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"> Do you hear me Forrest?! I have no excuses for my failures and no reason to quit. Powered by the spirit of the living GOD! Committed to see this race all the way through.. Are you? </span><br><br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.</em></span></strong> <span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>Philippians 3:13-14</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/40001852016-01-21T09:15:51-06:002016-02-09T10:59:32-06:00What Have You Invested?<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>I have been talking to a few folks who have been going through </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>“stuff”. </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>Some say that they desire holiness.. Some say they just want some peace.. Some have told me that they want some joy.. Others want to feel love. My response has been </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>“I see what you desire, but what have you invested?” </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>I spend a lot of time working on my girls. Trying to help them become better people and better representatives of Christ. One of the things among many things that I stress is “You get out of something, what you put into it.” School work, your walk with Christ, relationships, your sports.” I tell them that no one is going to give you anything. Don’t expect others to respect you if you don’t show respect. </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>Love isn’t love until you give it away</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>. My sister Tricia has invested a lot of years into becoming a nurse.. A lot of school.. Sacrificed her time. Now she is not only a nurse, but a very good one with a very impressive resume. She recently walked into a new job with great respect and expectations from her superiors and peers. The work that she has put in has produced that. My daughter Alicia has made a great turn this year in her walk with Christ. I see evidence of it so many times. Don’t get it twisted, just like all of us, she is still on the potter’s wheel. She is more in her word. Our workouts are different. Her disposition on the basketball court is different this year. She tends to speak of Gods’ influence in the many aspects of her life more. Even when things don’t appear to be going on her favor. It was so cool to see that the vision that she has for her year, which is posted on the wall in her room, has God all in it. She is a strong student. She works hard at it. The honors that she has received comes from the work she has invested. She is a great big sister, who has the respect of her little sis. She has invested a lot of personal time in her sister. The result is a crazy, close bond unlike I have never seen. Some may question her basketball skill and abilities but I have a </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>50 pound </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>vest in my car, </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>20 pound</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong> jump rope and many other training aids that she has spent many hours working with… I bet that I won’t find many, if any who have worked harder. Look, this is what I am saying. If you want great results, there are things that you can invest that produce great returns. Stuff like, </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>prayer, love, hard work, patience, meekness, commitment and study</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>. They all produce great returns. Things to not invest are </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 160, 122);"><strong>laziness, back biting, pride, envy, rage, hate, going with the flow of the world and sin</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>. I recall a time talking to one of my kids who was bent on the fact that they believed that they were right. So much to the point that they would act out in the wrong way. They were struggling with their pride and because of that they were struggling to make it from day to day. Thank God for scripture. Once they saw how God looked at pride in the Bible, they saw the importance of letting go and letting God handle things. Look… If you want Peace, be peaceful… If you want joy, be pleasant.. If you want holiness, spend more time with God and in his WORD.. Pray more.. If you want real friends, be friendly. You desire love… Love someone first.. You want to succeed.. Put in the work… You will get out of things, exactly what you put into it. How about me putting in a familiar scripture. If you want to debate, debate with it.</strong></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>Galatians 6:7-9</strong></span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.<br>8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.<br>9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/39902582016-01-15T08:51:48-06:002016-01-17T06:50:48-06:00Come Out From your Hiding Place!<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>Psalm 139:1-6 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.</strong></span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.</strong></em></span><br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">I look around and see so many trying to hide from truth. God is God and HE sees all and knows all. We will answer to HIM. So many hide behind their jobs, their fortune, fame. Some hide behind their titles, social statuses, uniforms, robes, egos, their guilt and so many try to hide their sins. We cover up by quoting scripture, doing deeds with false motives. God is calling and we keep on running.. Trying to hide in clubs and civic organizations.. Trying to hide in denominations… Newsflash… You can run but you can’t hide.. So, let’s stop the shenanigans and pray this prayer with me: </span></strong><br><br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">Father God, I have decided to stop running… I realize that I cannot hide from you.. I stand naked in my circumstances and sins… Vulnerable and open. Show me what I really look like. Give me a repentant heart, From this day, I worship you and you alone for </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">YOU ARE GOD!</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"> Fix me in Jesus name, Amen.</span></strong></span>6:06Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/39891122016-01-14T16:18:15-06:002016-01-14T16:21:49-06:00How Much meaning Does Your Life have?<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">Guess what? We all are going to die one day. My question is how is the quality of your life at the moment? Some would say “GREAT!” They would say that they have a fine job, family, material stuff ect. Some would talk about their fame or popularity. I have seen so many that say that one day and then be miserable the next. They take their lives due to “depression”. Some say that their lives suck because of the lack of money, love, notoriety ect… Can I keep this about scripture? Thank you. David said this in Psalm 16:11:</span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.</strong></em></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>In other words, and please get this for all of you clueless people: Life’s true meaning comes only in your relationship with God. We were created in order to find true meaning in HIM. Your degree(s), the drugs, the booze, the achieved recognition and all that stuff that you throw yourselves into don’t really give true meaning to your lives. All of that is temporary fixes that won’t last or give true meaning to your lives. To be honest when we place those things in front of or above God, HE will oppose them. Your feelings of emptiness, depression and unrest are just signals that you need to shift your focus in HIS direction. </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 205);"><strong>YOU DON’T HEAR ME</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>… Mark this word here though.. You will never find </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 205);"><strong>REAL</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong> peace, fulfillment and a sense of being whole until you find it in God. I’m a living witness that when you look at building your life around HIM, HE will meet every need. Saying this, I’ll ask the question. How much meaning does your life really have?</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/39858232016-01-12T13:13:30-06:002016-01-12T13:27:43-06:00What Motivates You?<div style="text-align: center;">
<br><span class="font_large">What Motivates you?</span>
</div><br><span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?” Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’”</strong></em></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">- 2 Samuel 1:5-8</span> <span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">For the past few days I have been looking at why we do what we do. So many times we do things that appear to be good things but for all of the wrong reasons. An example. You say that you wish to share your gifts, talents and or resources with someone or a particular group. You come across as being loving and concerned. Then you find out that the people that you are reaching out to won’t get you a lot of recognition. Or, maybe because a member of the group upset you. You then decide to take your ball and play elsewhere. They hurt your feelings or you aren’t getting the spotlight that you think that you so deserve. Were you really looking at ministering or being seen? I see this so many times and in so many places. Folks don’t want to serve in sincerity. It’s about them being seen in some special light. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>We want God to bless us but we have already placed flowers on ourselves by broadcasting every time that we serve others.. “Pat me on my back or I won’t be back.”</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"> <strong>In the text, David wanted proof that Saul and Jonathan were dead. He was not going to just take the word of a stranger. Then, he found out the stranger was an Amalekite. He identified himself, “I am your enemy. I am an Amalekite.” He had just defeated the Amalekites, because they had raided his town and taken the women, children and everything they owned. Somehow this man had escaped David’s destruction, and he just happened to come upon the spot where the Philistines had defeated Israel. It would not be a coincidence for this man to come upon Saul and Jonathan. In all likeliness, he was going through the bodies to take anything of value and he came upon Saul and Jonathan. He thought he would be rewarded for bringing the news to David, even though he had done wrong.</strong> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Listen, when we do things with the wrong motives, we are setting ourselves up for failure. It is always best to do the right thing for the right reason, than the wrong thing (which looks right to you) for recognition. It is said that the test by which all conduct must finally be judged is “motive”.</span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/39039642015-10-22T15:09:09-05:002015-10-22T15:10:33-05:00Cleansing, Confession, Conversion<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">I want to help someone today who is struggling to do the right thing and be right. I read that a life in Christ as Christians is like a glass mirror. We not only show and reflect the glory of God to the world but we also show the world its’ flawed image. We expose all the defects and attempts to hide the blemishes. That is why the scripture that I am going to share with you is so important today. We have to keep it real and humble ourselves by constantly confessing our sins to God and each other. This helps us renew our fellowship with Christ and show the world where our true identity lies. To live a repentant life before people is a huge and powerful witnessing tool. Everyone can see a fake anyway. Let me answer a few questions for you. Will you sin?... Yep! Will you struggle at times with sin?... YEP! Will others see you out there.. You better believe it! Folks are waiting to see you fall…. How you mess them up is through your apologies and confessions. This is the message of the Gospel.. I know that I am messing someone up right now, so let me get to the chase… Newsflash! People sin….. I sin… But…. I know a Savior! There is a Savior! I dare you to ask God to reveal any and all sin that you may be hiding in your life.. Confess it to HIM and pray for the strength to change.. If you owe someone an apology, do it now. It will take some God given courage to fix some of our messes… Let’s get it right.. </span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">Let this scripture be the one to lead to your cleansing, confession, and conversion:</span><br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.</span></strong> <span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">1 John 1:9</span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/38558402015-09-15T12:19:18-05:002022-08-23T05:23:58-05:00The Cycle<span class="font_large"><strong><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">I think of my walk with Christ and I must go back to the many good folks who poured generously into me. There were my parents, grandparents, great grandparents.. Then there was a group who loved me for no reason at all. Elder Doss, Elder Joiner, Pastor White, Rev. Carpenter, Pastor Robinson, Rev. Thomas, Apostle Neal and the list goes on. I was told by a good friend in ministry that we are to be distribution centers. I then looked at David’s words when he said that My cup runneth over.. Yes, my over flow is to be shared with those who need filling. People wonder why I am the way that I am when it comes to sharing Christ and trying to encourage. Why I am on such a mission to create disciples for Christ </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">(notice, I didn’t say Christians.. Disciples are devoted followers)</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">?</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> It is my responsibility! </span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">We are all responsible for creating a cycle of discipleship. It’s like the old commercial. Two friends told me, and I told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on, and so on… I look back at my spiritual tree and marvel at the many who have selflessly poured into me. I look to see who I have poured into. Who are they pouring into.. This is how we are to change this wicked world. The process is</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> intentional</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">, relational, wise and </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">critical</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">. To whom much is given, much is expected. Jesus did it with the apostles.. The commission says to Go and make disciples… Entrust this with </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">reliable</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"> men/women who will continue the cycle. If your block is still jacked up, you have more work to do. We can’t impact the world if we are afraid to impact the block, the school, the city, the state, our family and friends. Find a good soldier today. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);">They don’ t have to be perfect in your eyes</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">. Just share Christ and entrust them to share Christ. Are you continuing the cycle? </span></strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>Chew on this: 2 Timothy 2:2 2</strong></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.</strong></em></span></span>0:41Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/38374092015-09-01T11:31:22-05:002015-09-01T11:31:45-05:00What Say You?<strong><span class="font_large">I choose to live the life that God has placed before me. I follow Christ.. I strive for holiness. I imagine that the devil isn’t too thrilled with that. I know that my boldness or “sticktoitness” is offensive to those who chose to go with the flow of society. Not tripping on them not liking me or not speaking to me. I too get offended watching them pour out their own quicksand, jumping in it, and trying to persuade others to jump in with them. Anyway, I chose between God and man… God won.. He will win every time.. No apologies…. It is what it is.. And you? #Joshua 24:15</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/38237142015-08-18T12:17:53-05:002015-08-19T09:13:40-05:00The Bloodline pt 2<span class="font_large"><strong><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">I had lunch with my son yesterday and just simply enjoyed the moment. It made me think of a recent conversation that I had with my sister and my wife in reference this </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">“Brown Family Thing”.. </span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">Give me a minute cause I am going somewhere with this. I gave a nugget years ago called the bloodline.. I am going to revisit and revise… My sister recently moved here in Kansas. What a feeling! There is something about more Browns being in the midst. Nothing against other families.. I am relating to the Browns. See, we can disagree, fall out for a second but we never get it twisted…</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> We are Browns</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">…Nothing can tear that bond apart.. Only a few have married into the family and have easily adapted to the closeness that we have. My sister was talking about how her husbands struggled with our closeness. I hear of how girlfriends and boyfriends have struggled with our closeness. My wife (though I didn’t see it, said that she had to get used to it at first because it wasn’t typical and the bond is sooo strong.. She now functions as if she were a Brown all of her life..) My son and I are extremely close. I am close to all of my kids but will just use him as an example. It doesn’t matter what he does in life, at the end of the day, he is </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">MY SON</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">… I cannot not deny him.. Can’t disown him… He carries my DNA… When he does great things, he is </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">MY SON</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">.. If he were the next Charles Manson, the DNA would still say </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">MY SON</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">.. I can say with confidence that no one or thing can come in between our bond. Now things can disrupt the harmony of our relationship.. It has happened but at the end of the day.. He is my son and His mother’s baby. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">A Brown</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">.. My sister and I laugh and say that all those who come into the Brown family, might as well get with the program because it is what it is. Our parents really did a great job of instilling that. Here is where I am going with this. When one accepts Christ, a blood transfusion takes place.. Nothing, nor no one can undo the bloodline.. It’s a done deal. Folks will struggle with your relationship but they cannot undo it. The DNA is there. Yet, we can by our actions, associations, and ways can disrupt the harmony of things…Get out of sync. Saying this to the one who has fallen or lost their way.. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">You can always call on Daddy</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">.. He won’t deny what is HIS.. They don’t have the power to erase the DNA. The results are in.. Work on the harmony. The bloodline was established when you gave way to the surgery, through your submission to HIM… There will always be some who struggle with your relationship to HIM.. Just like some will always struggle with the closeness of the Browns.. It is what it is… </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">The Bloodline</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">.. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">STRONG</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">… Never Failing… Here is one for you to feast on today.<br><br><br>Romans 8:38,39</span></strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord</strong></em></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/38149162015-08-11T09:32:18-05:002015-08-12T13:15:14-05:00Under The Influence<span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large">My nugget today is about being under the influence… I know where some of you went but this isn’t the case. I was reading a proverb which stated that we should discipline our kids while there is hope. For you parents you notice your kids start to struggle with their identity and look for independence at around 12 years old. So many mothers start to panic at that point because the kid starts to pull away some. In an act of desperation some parents attempt to tighten up some and in some cases the power struggle begins. In the Old Testament the solution for a rebellious, disobedient child was to have the men of the city stone them. I know that you think I am making it up but </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong><span class="font_large">read Deuteronomy 21:18-21</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large">.. This kinda tells me that even the best of parents can have a rebellious kid. Why is that so? </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><span class="font_large">Newsflash</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large"> </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong><span class="font_large"><em>some of you aren’t the greatest influence in your children’s’ lives.</em></span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large"> Some of you missed the boat when they were 2 or 3 when boundaries were to be created without crushing their spirits. You know.. All the times when they did bad stuff and you thought it was cute and let it go. You didn’t continue to groom them in the way that they should. You didn’t establish the importance of a relationship with the Lord and the importance of being a child of God. Now, some of you taught them religion..Heck, some of you as adults are still missing the boat. You only know Mommas or Grandmas Jesus and the God that you serve whether you want to admit it or not has limits in what he will do in your life. You live and work under the influence of circumstance and time. God is a mere figure and not a reality in your lives. You react under the influence of fear in times of crisis. You are under the influence of the laws of physics.. Under the influence of your ego.. Your clubs and organizations...You don’t truly believe in God performing miracles.. Doubting Thomas’s … I was riding with my daughter, Alicia and was pointing out incidents at where God was truly showing HIS face on her behalf. Even now, as we have things going on that we are waiting God to do, I stressed the importance of knowing that He not only can, but will do. </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><span class="font_large">Negativity drives me nuts!</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large"> I am doing my best to be an example of faith and one who chooses to be a true disciple. Not just a Facebook or social media figure.. I want her to see me not only talking this talk but living it.. </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong><span class="font_large">Yeah, I wanna be the Realest Kat she and my other kids know</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large">.. It’s so much more than feeding her and putting clothes on her back.. More than the hours spent in the gym or the money spent in attempt to help her pursue her dreams. I told her last night, that my main attempt is to make sure that she knows the Lord, Loves the Lord, and serves the Lord first and foremost. This life will one day end for us all and regardless of how special we think we are, folks will forget us and our feeble attempts to be great in the eyes of man. The only thing that really matters is God and God being pleased with us. I don’t want her influenced by the mindset of this world because it is so off based. A college degree sounds nice.. I great career sounds nice but in the end, it will all be meaningless. When my kids speak of me or think of me, I want them to first say that I so desired for them to be saved and set apart.. That’s the influence that I hope to have. That is the legacy that I hope to leave. I don’t want them to see an unstable man in me.. Preaching Christ one day and boasting on stuff that doesn’t matter the next. I am quick to let them know which things in this world are vain.. I have encouraged her to talk to God with expectation and that her desire is that whatever HE does for her and through her, that HE be glorified.. See, I want my kids to understand the realness of HIM and the limitlessness of him. That we don’t have to do anything in order for HIM to move… </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong><span class="font_large">He doesn’t need us in order to be awesome</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large">. </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><span class="font_large">HE is that all by HIMSELF!</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large"> I told her to always take note of HIS fingerprints and the showing of HIS face. I told her that the more she talks to HIM the more real HE becomes in her life. Then she won’t allow anyone to be able to influence her negatively.. Parents.. If you know God.. Introduce HIM to your children.. Do it over and over again.. That is if you truly know HIM… For those of you who have been faking it, you aren’t fooling anyone.. The proof is in your pudding… Your actions and words say it all. Do it while there is still hope… We all need to be operating under HIS influence.. Under the influence of HIS Holy Spirit.. Not under the influence of doubt, fear, shame, evil, circumstance, time and chance… Discipline them… Be disciplined as well. Do it while there is hope…</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/37856412015-07-21T10:19:45-05:002015-08-04T09:38:31-05:00Stay on The Path!<span class="font_large"><strong><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">I was reading a scripture in Proverbs today and it got me thinking as I look at the world and how most folks think. I have been talking to my folks about staying focused on what is important and how critical it is to stay on the path. I read a book which explained further to me the mindset of most of Americans.. Here is what it said..” 74% of Americans think it is all right to steal from people who they believe will not really miss it; 64% believe it is acceptable to lie, as long as no one gets hurt; 93% say they decide moral issues by their own experience or opinion.” I believe that the WORD is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.. When I deviate from it, I take the chance of getting lost. I imagine it this way. A kid is given a path to stay on in order to get home to safety. The path may seem long and boring at times.. Lonely at times… But the path definitely leads home. Well, then we have those who think that they know more than the one who gave the instructions (God). They figure out a shortcut.. Or they want to get off the path because they believe that they can find some temporary pleasure… Relief.. Have a little fun.. They like the sound of what’s coming out of the woods. It doesn’t seem dangerous along the wood line and they have stored up a few breadcrumbs to get them back where they are if they decide to come back. So, they follow the sounds of the woods.. They hear the laughter.. The songs feed their flesh… The news of the things done in the woods seem so much more appealing. Then all of the sudden the woods become dark.. You can’t tell one tree from the other. They find themselves turned around and the inhabitants of the woods really don’t care if you are lost. They have accepted themselves being lost. Misery loves company. The bread crumbs have been eaten by the birds of the woods or have blown off the beaten path. Now, hunger settles in… Fatigue settles in.. The path that was there for you to get home is nowhere in sight.. The end result of your disobedience… Death.. If you have been placed on the path to get home safely, stay on it. Don’t follow them into the woods.. Don’t fall for the hype of the noise that they make.. Stay focused on the direction that you have been pointed in.. Yes, it may feel lonely at times.. Not many are built to endure this journey.. Not many find the destination worth it all but trust me, IT IS…</span></strong> <strong><em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Stay focused on the light.. Don’t trust your intellect (regardless of how many degrees you may have… ) Lean not into your own understanding</span></em></strong>.<br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">Feast on this scripture: </span></strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>Proverbs 14:12 </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong><em>There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.. </em></strong></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>If it doesn’t lead you to God, according to HIS WORD… It is, she is, He is, or they are a distraction! Yeah, the debate over a flag, those cops, your bestie, your Bae, your crew… They have been a distraction and you are getting further and further away from the path…. </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>STAY ON THE PATH</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>..</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/37364222015-06-10T11:50:01-05:002015-06-12T21:39:19-05:00Doing It The Right Way... God's Got You!<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">I want to go straight to the pure in heart. I want to encourage those who are earnestly trying to do this thing the right way. Those who choose God’s way over their way. You may be struggling. I know you are seeing those who choose to ignore what is right and do what has been convenient. Those who seem to be prospering and on easy street. Every day is one day closer to pay day. You just keep putting in the work. I had a guy recently who works with me. He was with me when I had done a job. Everything was done and over with. I was tired and just happy that it was a success. This guy was going home for the day and something made him get out of his car to say a word to me. I know he felt kinda weird because he doesn’t really know me. He has been on the job for less than a month. He walked in the office and he says to me, “ Look, I know folks aren’t running up to you in gratitude or going all out to let you know how great of a job that you had done with this last job that you completed but God sees you and HE has an awesome reward in store for you. You showed that you cared about people and you went above and beyond to take care of them.. Trust this… God’s got you..” I was like …. O..K… thanks. He then left and went home. I want to tell someone reading this that God sees you.. Your time is coming… It is actually around the corner.. Don’t grow weary in doing it the right way. Don’t even focus on those who seem to be doing so well, that chose to do it the wrong way.. Their true pay day is coming as well. I shared with a family member that if she chooses to make the tough choices and do things the right way, then God will give her the best results.. I won’t beat this horse any longer.. Here is a verse that confirms my nugget.. </span><br><br><strong>Psalm 1:6</strong> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><em>For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish</em></strong></span></span>5:56Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/37176552015-05-27T12:44:49-05:002015-05-28T09:22:17-05:00Monkey See... Monkey Do<span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><span class="font_large"><strong>I was going through my wallet and came across a couple of those identity cards that police make for your children. This is in the case that they become missing or kidnapped. It breaks down the identifiable things like height, weight, eye color, and even has the place for fingerprints. I was with our youth in the church some time ago, talking about who Jesus is and what HE did for us. I was amazed at how little they really know. Yet, we are raising young “Christians”.. I thought of the old term, Monkey see, Monkey do, Monkey looks, just like you. If we as parents are not living the life of Christians, how can we expect our kids to be young Christians? You may have some that have the “Do as I say, not as I do” mentality. See a lot of that.. We promote our social organizations to our kids before we promote Christ. Actions speak louder than words.. There is an identity crisis going on. Some of our youth will grow out of them through life’s experiences but most won’t. If we want our children to know who they are in Christ and accept Christ, we must do so first. They see our jacked up ways that we have. The ones that show no signs of Christ dwelling in us. They see when we act ugly, superficial, materialistic and self righteous. They see when our priorities are social and economic statuses over living a godly lifestyle. They hear every foul word, watch the filth that you look at on TV, and listen to the vulgar lyrics in your music. They see how vain we are. How you are more into how you physically look over if folks can see Christ in you. You spent all of your energy trying to look like a Greek god or goddess but eventually, it all will turn into dirt again. You are not helping when you try to “raise them right” by degrading their deeds and reliving their failures, but you are so unstable in your walk in the Lord. Remember, “Monkey see, Monkey do.” Let’s stop promoting false values and start walking upright before our children so that our children’s children can get it right. Stop trying to act so holy before your kids and begin to live holy before them. You are not fooling them at all. I have used this scripture before in a nugget.<br><br>Just coming at you from this direction:<br><br><em>Ephesians 6:4 </em></strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span class="font_large"><strong>Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the DISCIPLINE and INSTRUCTION of the Lord.</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/36961932015-05-06T15:00:26-05:002020-06-17T06:45:33-05:00Looking for a REAL Change..<span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong><span class="font_large">Many times we are content with sitting on the sidelines, hearing about other's lives being changed in huge ways and God being so important in their life. We go to church and hear people talk about what God has been doing in their lives. We go to events and conferences that we hope will microwave our Christian maturity to well done. We read books on how other's lives were changed. And that is good enough for us, but deep down inside, we wish we could have that happen in our own life. So we make promises to try harder. We recommit our lives to Jesus. We might begin having devotions more often. But, after a while, the desire dies off and the excitement has turned into duty and we give up. Obedience makes the difference in a life that is sold out for God. It is seeing what God does with our attitude of following what He has in the Bible that brings about change in our hearts and a Christian walk that is ablaze. Did I say ablaze?</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/36944672015-05-05T15:13:43-05:002015-05-10T22:38:04-05:00Wise Words<span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><span class="font_large"><strong>I have been in the book of Proverbs…. Just chillin in the front portion.. It dealt a lot with the topic of wisdom. I want to encourage my readers of this nugget to pursue it with diligence. Pursue it in every facet of your life. Wisdom teaches us to depend upon God and encourages us to develop a godly character. A character so strong that it shows in everything we do and say. It leads to living a life of freedom and skillful living. Without wisdom, one makes foolish decisions and instead of leaning on God and HIS ways, they become self centered, vulnerable to the schemes of this world’s system. They will fall for anything… Wisdom is a gem that I’d consider more precious than any diamond or metal of value. Through wisdom, we become skilled workmen.. Masters of our crafts. The things that God has blessed us to be able to do. I had a recent conversation with my daughter about some of the things that I would do before every game I played. I mentioned how a friend of mine, Eddie Smith and I would find a prayer spot and go to our separate corners and give God uninterrupted time. No one there but us and God. I told her of the times even when on the court where I felt at a loss and I’d whisper, “God help me..” I was basically reinforcing the scripture which tells us to acknowledge God in ALL of our ways.. When we do, HE provides confidence and direction… We can never get caught up in folks calling our names out or tooting our horns. Wisdom comes from whole-heartedly trusting God over ourselves or those placed around us. If you lack wisdom, you will prove to be one filled with arrogance and autonomy. That is a recipe for failure and destruction. At your leisure, read the first 3 books of Proverbs… Ask God to grant you wisdom. It’s a precious gift.</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/36549112015-04-13T09:30:15-05:002015-04-14T16:16:17-05:00Clean Heart Over Clean Hands<span class="font_large"><strong><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">In Luke 11:39. Jesus went off on the Pharisees. My message for MY people. God’s law liberates & protects. Let no leader or “Church folk” bind you with their tradition to the point where you are so religious and self-righteous that no one can find a spiritual bone in you. Don’t get caught up in the many rituals and theatrics either. So many “Bible Scholars” try to analyze the walk and worship of others and the sad thing is they struggle to see their own flaws, faults and shortcomings… They watch you… Pull out scripture to measure you… All along, they focus on the clean appearance of their hands but their hearts are so dirty.. Looking into finding sin in you that they’ve become blind to the darkness that lies within theirs.. If you are in pursuit of Christ, keep doing it.. Let no one talk you out of your hunger for righteousness. Just because you may not look like them or do like them doesn’t mean that the Lord isn’t working on you or through you.. I look at where we are in our worship.. Unlike so many.. To be honest, I have not experienced worship like I am before.. I know that The Lord is present.. I have a charge to love on and teach those placed in my care. It is a dirty job at times.. I tell my young folks this.. Pay more attention to having a clean heart and not be like leaders who only try to keep clean hands.</span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">Read the attached scripture below.</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness </span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">Luke 11:39</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/36121282015-03-19T15:47:46-05:002015-03-20T12:03:06-05:00Wrong Aint Right!<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>When I was a little kid, my grandmother Bessie, would be chewing out my mother or some of the other adults who though that they had all the answers and she'd tell them when they were wrong. One of her sayings was "right is right and wrong is wrong.. Plain and simple!".. We live in a society where it seems that being virtuous, sweet,and honest is looked down upon. Folks are attracted to ill behaviors, wild lifestyles, and would rather be labeled a thug over a saint. We'd rather be a loud mouth than a quiet soul. Would rather people fear us than truly respect us. Rather mean mug someone that we approach over saying hi before they even open their mouths to speak to you. We live comfortably in sin because it is so easy to say that “we are all sinners”.. Saying this, makes us living outside of what God says permissible nowadays.. Well, the BOOK is the standard and God will measure us all.. </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>I really cannot imagine HIM giving a pass or grading on a curve</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>… Either we choose to live right or we choose to live wrong.. My prayer today is Lord please clean me up and help me to deal with such people. The ones who think that wrong is right. Don't allow me to be drawn to what the world finds attractive. I'd rather be your child than be a slave to this world. Nuff said.. That's my nugget. Stop trying to make wrong right and right wrong.. Like my grandma would say, Right is Right and wrong is wrong.. Meditate on this scripture</strong>:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency</strong></span><strong><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">.. Psalm 73:13</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/35912182015-03-11T08:13:20-05:002015-03-11T08:17:52-05:00Built To Last<span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large">I was in the book of Hebrews today. Chapter 10. Was thinking on how excited I get when I think of the things that I know God has for me. I also thought of how I sometimes get tired along the way. How many times that I thought of quitting. Tired of dealing with certain people.. Certain issues.. Seeing the same problems popping up. Some of you may have felt tired of trying to live right when you see folks living foul that seem to have it all. Don't believe the hype. I thought of friends that I have that started on the Christian journey.. Some using their gifts and talents in ministry and because of challenges so many of them just quit. Some preferred the fast cash and extra attention of doing secular music. Others expected life to all of the sudden to become easy and because it didn't, they decided that living Holy just wasn't worth it. Yet in the beginning they were so enthused by some vision of a promised land given by God. My daughter Alicia, like all of my kids is a pretty good athlete. I used to like to see her run the mile. We could do a two hour plyometrics workout and she would still go out and simply smoke the mile run. She sets the goal before her and just knocks it out. But I've seen her in some of our other workouts. She'll sometimes complain, consider slacking, stopping or say that she can't go on. That is until I give her a target.. A goal to reach before finishing and she'll kick it into a new gear and get it done. Some of us have allowed stuff in life to block our vision of promise. We have allowed people to distract us and discourage us at times. Alot of times it is our very own family. We have let finances, joblessness, past relationships, lack of feeling respected or loved get in the way of us enduring the walk with Christ. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span class="font_large"><strong>We must see each task, each issue, each challenge as a training session. It helps to build endurance for this race. In training, muscles are broken down to be rebuilt into stronger muscles.</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large"> You may not initially be able to run a mile, but by pushing yourself more and more, your heart and lungs become stronger. You legs tire less. Ultimately your endurance increases. So many of us talk a good talk but have no heart. Not willing to build up our endurance, and fight through the pain. We need endurance to ultimately receive the promises of God. I want to be looked upon as one whose </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span class="font_large"><strong>Built To Last</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large">. It is a necessity. Don't want to believe me? Argue with the <strong>WORD</strong>....</span></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="font_large"><strong>For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.</strong></span></span><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large">Hebrews 10:36</span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/35885712015-03-10T11:34:29-05:002015-03-10T11:57:25-05:00Trust This<span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large"><strong>Well, Today I want to touch a topic that will shake some of my younger readers almost to your core. I want to cover the issue of ………</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span class="font_large"><strong>TRUST</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large"><strong>…. Yes, I said it. Trust has to exist to have real relationships… I’m talking human and devine relationships. If you don’t have trust in God, all of your relationships will suffer. We fall under the false pretense that when we give into God that we won’t face disappointments, be hurt or even fall. Hear this, the more you trust GOD, the more effective you will be in relationships with others. This will allow you to not be so manipulative and also allow you to draw your security from him, which in turns allows you to give yourselves more freely to others.. </strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="font_large"><em>There is no way that you can build strong relations behind a self constructed wall</em></span></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large"><strong>….. NO WAY!..</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="font_large"><strong>Real love does not even begin until you expect nothing in return</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large"><strong>…. You can only do that if your whole trust is in the Lord. Now you are being shown your struggle this morning… You can thank me later.. LOL. So… Let’s do this. Go and gather up all of your hurts and betrayals from the past, give em one last look and give them to God this morning… Forgive those who have let you down and put you in that place of pain.. Stay with me…. You will be blessed greatly by this nugget if this applies to you… Now focus toward the trustworthy ONE.. God ALMIGHTY… And say “today, I choose to trust you… Over money, fortune, titles, people, even myself..” If you decide to live this out, watch the GIVER of Every Good and Perfect Gift.. He will prepare you to be really loved and be a world class lover, yourself….. Listen as HE whispers in your ear…”</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span class="font_large"><strong>TRUST ME</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large"><strong>…” If I am going to put my trust anywhere, I choose to place it in God’s hands. Proverbs 11:28 says He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.. Time to live in overflow....</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/35623492015-02-27T10:13:49-06:002015-02-27T10:14:57-06:00Abandoned....Not!<span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong><span class="font_large">I want to encourage someone today who may be feeling left out there or feeling abandoned. I know that feeling of putting your trust and confidence in people and when you need them the most they dipped on you. You know those folks who told you that they had your back.. The one who said that they’d love you till the end of the earth. The one who called you his dawg or the girl who said she was your chick.. Well, you know where I’m going with this.. Paul called out a time when those who was supposed to have his back, they dipped on him. They didn’t just not stand with him in “ride or die” mode, they walked out on him.. Anyone ever been there before? Well Paul didn’t trip because in him being abandoned, God gave him a testimony. He didn’t even get mad at Kats for leaving… He learned that when no one else will stick it out with him, when no one else would stand with him, The Lord will and do it with the quickness! Then Paul later stated that the Lord gave him strength.. Not just any strength. He used the Greek term </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong><span class="font_large">endunamoo</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong><span class="font_large"> which meant that he was empowered with a great inner strength. TNT strength.. See God will come and make you dynamic in such times if you continue to stand. God not only strengthened Paul but he did so with Timothy as well. He will do the same for you.. You may be feeling abandoned, and forsaken by those who you thought would stick it out.. They left but don’t trip.. God needed them to leave room for HIM to stand by your side… Not sure why I am going this way but I will continue.. Someone going through a tough sickness who may be reading this… Those who promised to be with you through this thing that you are facing.. They left you. May have even used the excuse that they cannot bare watching you suffer any longer.. Or they just flat out lied about being true to you… It doesn’t matter.. Don’t let it sour you.. God needed that room to be with you and to give you that endunamoo… That </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><span class="font_large">“TNT”</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong><span class="font_large"> type of strength.. He needed room to provide you comfort and show you what </span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong><span class="font_large">REAL</span></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong><span class="font_large"> love is… Just call on HIM to stand by your side.. HE won’t dip on you.. For the one who was left holding the emotional baggage from the one who said they loved you more than life itself and they left… God will occupy that space for you and do it well…. Just call on HIM.</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/35600982015-02-26T13:17:00-06:002015-02-27T05:41:32-06:00The Real...Exalted God<strong><span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">Since everyone seems to like reality shows, I am placing </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">“The Real”</span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"> out here today. I wanna put something out there to the ones who are saying that they are doing it Big for Christ. Be careful. I see some of the posts and some folks come really close to sounding like they are doing God’s work for HIM as if HE couldn’t do a job without them. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Newsflash!</span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"> The best that we can do is open ourselves up and submit to the Masters hand. In other words, allow ourselves to be a vessel that HE can do HIS work through. See, when we try to do it all for Him without HIS approval and assistance, we wear out. We get tired, frustrated and even mad. Listen, when God works through us, we are like that energizer bunny… Keep going, and going, and going… We experience energy to serve unlike ever before.. Patience and love for folks and ministry, unlike ever before. One more thing for the boastful preacher, prophet, Pastor ect</span></span></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span class="font_large"><em>..(you know all of your glorified titles that you so proudly proclaim)</em></span></span><strong><span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"> God is exalted through </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">HIS</span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"> own strength and </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">NOT YOURS</span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">.. If you really knew Him like you said, you wouldn’t have such the "gas face".. True power would flow through you and the ministry. It’s about HIM… don’t trip or get mad… Put it in the pipe and smoke it.. Let me put a scripture out there so I won’t have to defend this.</span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">Psalm 21:13 </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power</span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/35423472015-02-19T09:40:16-06:002015-02-20T16:09:34-06:00Stop This Crazy Thing!<span class="font_large"><strong><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">I want to motivate someone to get off of the treadmill of life that they have been on and be willing to hit the road. Have you ever seen any of those movies where a person will experience something in life one day, go to sleep and find themselves reliving the same day over and over again? All while trying to reach a different result in the end? No matter how hard they try, they do so much of the same stuff over again and the result never gets to where they had hoped. I keep hearing George Jetson yelling </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“Jane, stop this crazy thing!” </span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">Listen, so many of us want a change in our lives but we continue to do the same stuff every day, deal with the same toxic people, be involved in the same toxic relationships but we want to stop this crazy thing… Crazy, isn’t it? We can’t keep doing the same things, day in and out and expect different results. You say that you want to live a life pleasing to God but the hellish lifestyle that you lead feels too good to your flesh. You poison your body with chemicals for a quick high or buzz and wonder why you are constantly physically breaking down. You struggle to see heavenly things happening in your life because you are more caught up in worldly entertainment. Some of you have the nerve to think that God endorses your ways and actions.. You have been deceived and because you refuse to change or accept change, don’t expect new results. At the end of the day, if you choose to be like everyone else in the world, you will receive exactly what they get in the end. For the few who choose to strive to be different.. Living a holy lifestyle is different nowadays.. It isn’t the norm.. If you choose to truly be different, you can expect something other than ordinary results. We all have areas in our lives that need change.. So many refuse to grow because change requires more from us. More of a commitment. Some of us wish we had better attitudes but refuse to work on changing them. Instead you stay on the treadmill.. Going nowhere. You want a better relationship but you are attracted to the same old guy/girl who ripped your heart up or led you astray. We would rather address the faults of others but try not to identify our own faults and make better choices.. We work to please God in some ways and in other ways refuse to make steps towards change to truly bring Him pleasure. So in the words of Mr. Jetson…</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> let’s Stop this crazy thing!!!<br><br><em>And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. </em></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">Colossians 1:10</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/35395952015-02-18T10:30:59-06:002015-02-24T14:30:24-06:00Bread for a stone<span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong><span class="font_large">I just wanted to share this with one who may be bitter towards God and His possible punishment towards them. HE is better than we are. He doesn’t deal with HIS children in anger when chastising us. He doesn’t want to crush our self esteem. Just get our attention. He loves us too much for that. He watches us closely and guides us gently, when we are willing to be guided. He sees us as priceless. When His son was humbled by men, the Father lifted Him up above the earth.. Though He may have had to punish you, He too will lift you up. Stop blaming God for your trials and failures. Allow them to draw you nearer to him. I may get on my children and seem to come down hard at times but I am also quick to remind them of how great they are and the standard that they are expected to live by. Never replacing bread for a stone..</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/34936192015-01-29T12:01:13-06:002015-01-29T12:04:32-06:00Where Does Your devotion Lie?<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">I revisited a familiar scripture this morning and looked once again at the devotion of Paul after his rebirth. Paul was given vision on the road to Damascus. When we are reborn in Christ we are given visions.. That is if we are listening to the Holy Spirit at all. Some of us have been given enormous vision. So big that it has scared some of us or we took it as some false perception due to it being so enormous. We tend to shun it and see it as something beyond our possible reach. We overlook the facts that God is a redeemer and The Holy Spirit is the power that enables and empowers us to do such enormous feats. The vision given is to help us become all that Jesus wants us to be. Everything that Jesus desires me to be can and will be attained through the Holy Spirit and my being obedient and devoted to HIM. Not any particular cause, but to HIM. <strong>We have no problem being devoted to a denomination, a job, a fraternizes, groups and sororities. No problem being dedicated to a cause or situation.</strong> We just struggle when it comes to being devoted to HIM first and foremost. When I looked at Paul, he wasn’t so devoted to a cause but to a person and that was Christ Jesus. Yes, he was given a task to do but he was devoted to his relationship which in turn empowered him to live out the tasks. Be a minister He saw nothing else.. Jesus is all he lived for.. <strong>My question is what are you truly devoted to?</strong> The job? The Bruhs? The Bishop? The colors? The cash? The popularity? The cause? The denomination? The team?... <strong>Is there any room left for HIM?</strong> Have we mistaken all of this for being devoted to HIM? The vision given may be enormous but if you stay devoted to HIM… Mission accomplished! Look at what Paul was told he was to do.. You know his background at this point. </span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>16</strong></span> <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; </em></span></strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>17</strong></span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><em>Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,</em></strong> </span><br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">18</span></strong> <strong><em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me</span></em></strong>. <span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">Acts 26:16-18</span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/34914542015-01-28T11:43:49-06:002015-01-28T11:44:21-06:00A Preparation Period<span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large"><strong>Hey Family, Was reading Exodus 3 and realized that God took HIS time preparing Moses to perform the job that he would have to perform in Egypt. 40 years in the wilderness of Midian.... It was a personal encounter at the burning bush where Moses got to come in the presence of the Loving God. This encounter permanently transformed Moses and give him a desire to seek God for the rest of his days. Is there anyone reading this feeling like they are in a wilderness period of their life? Maybe God is preparing you for a special encounter with HIM. One that will forever transform you and ignite a fire in you that makes you forever hungry for HIM.</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/34887802015-01-27T08:48:57-06:002015-01-27T11:35:20-06:00ANCHORED (In Memory of my Bro and Friend Pastor James T. Madry Jr.)<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>I have a message for the one who is having trouble resting lately. You may have several things on your mind or just one major concern that just won’t allow you to feel settled. For some reason an old song rings in my head today and I believe that it is one of the motivators for today’s nugget. I often have seen my life as me being on a vessel on the seas. I have had my shares of storms and rain. Some violently pushed me into places of near death and destruction. Others though violent didn’t move me a bit. As I recall such times, my destination was so much based upon my faith or lack of it in God. I love to fish. Been on a few boats. All of them had anchors on them. Most of the anchors were designed with hooks on them. The hooks would dig into the bottom of the lake or pond. They could even grab ahold of big rocks. This kept the boat from being pushed all over the place when the winds blew or the waves came crashing in. We being living vessels also need to be anchored solidly or we will find ourselves being blown all over the place when storms approach. So many of us find ourselves tossed by differing belies and doubts (unbeliefs) </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>read Ephesians 4:14 and James 1:6</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>.. As I recalled my stable moments in life. The times in which I look back on and seeing myself sure footed, I was anchored in faith in God. Being anchored by faith in God, anchors the soul and keeps us from drifting away and being dragged into so many messy situations. We find ourselves, even in the midst of storms being able to rest. I sing the old song today, </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>“My soul is anchored in the Lord.” </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>Are you drifting or are you anchored? Storms are coming… Winds will blow… Are you anchored in faith? </strong></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>Isaiah 26:3</strong></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.</span><br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">Ephesians 4:14 </span></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming</span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><strong>James 1:6</strong></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind</span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/34809622015-01-22T15:54:29-06:002015-01-22T21:45:00-06:00A Nugget For The Clueless..<span class="font_large"><strong>I know it's been a minute but I won't move to send you a WORD unless I am sure that it comes from God. I talk to a lot of youth and young adults and I like to inquire about their plans. I let them go on and tell me of their dreams to be a professional this or that. Their plans for financial freedom and wealth. Then I ask the question. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"What else?" </span>Ooh. That gets them every time. I then ask the question of "what if you don't achieve those goals, what then?" I must say that any answer they give me to an extent is ok. At least they are dreaming or have some kind of vision. I get frustrated at the ones who have no clue of what they want or would like to go. I used to blast my kids when they would give me the "I don't know" answer when asked "What do you plan on doing after high school?" Well in time the Lord gave me a word to share to encourage them as well. I want to tell this to the one who stands clueless today. This is also to the one who have taken steps in a certain direction, things don't seem to be working out and you don't know which way to go next.. Though you may not have a concrete idea or plan... <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">God does</span>. HE has it designed just for you and your success. Seek HIM and HE will lay it out for you. Lead you in the direction of it. Listen, you may go through a wilderness period on the way but your land of promise is ahead. Just stay the course. It'll all work out for your good.<br><br><br>David said it this way: Psalms 16:10 </strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/34782222015-01-21T11:32:27-06:002015-01-22T08:50:36-06:00Straight Up!<span class="font_large"> Was looking at what someone had said to me some time ago. They said the "church" is powerless because no one goes to it like it is a hospital for the spiritually sick. When I was given the vision for the Rock of Refuge, I was being shown a place to serve as a hospital and place of safety for those in need of the Lord. The word on the streets are there are very few churches in existence like that in our communities anymore. They are just places to gather socially, check the block that you’ve been, or look for a good guy or girl. Not a holy place that stands on biblical truths. Today, we are told that we must tolerate so much stuff or we are considered to be dogmatic. Well as I look at it, I see a simple solution for us Christians. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Teach absolute moral truth with the anointing of the Holy Spirit</strong></span>. I believe this will make sinners see a need for a savior. We are too busy watering the gospel down to put folks at ease. That is why alters are so empty nowadays. Folks are pleased with the skin that they are in. Even if it covered in sin. Certain sins are untouchable. Don’t talk about adultery, fornication, homosexuality or addiction. If you do, you’re being dogmatic, judgmental or intolerant. Yeah right, but you can speak prosperity every day. Christians leave and empty the churches that refuse to believe in absolute moral truth. If our churches seem to be emptying out, let us start to evaluate the situation. Or if it seems like folks that want to live Holy lives are being replaced by people who choose to live life on their own terms, let’s look at this thing. Not saying that we should judge folks, but we can judge the fruit. Their lifestyle, their family life, their children, their ministry…Love and acceptance for the sinner (includes sinning Christians), but speaking against the sin <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>IS A MUST</strong></span>.. <strong>Though Jesus spoke love, HE offended many</strong>. Let’s make a pact to serve the full gospel. What is pleasing to our ears as well as the ones that make us say ouch! Like I said I want my gospel 100 proof and not watered down… Straight up!</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/34575222015-01-08T11:35:17-06:002015-01-08T15:24:01-06:00Expecting growth Right where you are<strong><span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">This is for the one complaining about where they are in life, love, ministry, work, ect. The reason that you have no strong roots </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">(you are so easily moved and shaken)</span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"> is because you refuse to grow where God has placed you. Stop whining and complaining. Focus on being fruitful... Jesus said, “how much more your Father Who clothes the grass of the field will clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him. If you feel like God is not doing what HE said HE would in your life, try considering if you are obeying the life that HE has given you.</span> <span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">Like Bernie Mac would say,</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“How U Livin?” </span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">It may feel uncomfortable and not ideal to you but I dare you to trust God and grow where you are planted. The grass always seems greener on the other side..</span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/34450312014-12-30T09:42:21-06:002014-12-30T18:04:10-06:00Pleasure and Joy... They aren't the same<span class="font_large"><strong><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">I was looking at the comparison of two things the other day… I want this to be thought provoking. I am expecting yall to go to my blog page and talk this one up. I am going to talk on the comparison of what I call Jesus Joy and pleasure. So many people get joy and pleasure twisted when there is a difference. Joy is a supernatural thing and pleasure is superficial.. You with me? Ok.. Look over the things that have given you pleasure over the years… Where they constant? Did the source of your pleasures change? I used to find pleasure in video games once upon a time, After a while it got old. I’ve had relationships that gave me pleasure.. They didn’t last. The one thing that has been a constant for me is the joy that I have from God and the things that God has given me as blessings. I also have had some things that gave me pleasure that became excess. I got too much of it.. Too much of the chocolate chips.. Too many crab legs.. You know eating so much that you got sick from them .. To the point that the sight of them made you sick… Some of you would say that you had too much of a girl or guy that the sight of them made you sick.. That is because they were strictly a pleasure and not a joy. (LOL) It could be because they changed or you changed but the joy that God gives never changes because HE never changes.. I hear that song</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">“Jesus the same, yesterday, today, forevermore…..” </span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">(By the way, that is scripture.. It’s in Hebrews) The more I sing it, something bubbles up on the inside of me because I truly can relate to the joy that I have.. God did it! My praise has a purpose!… I’m talking a life of bliss.. Someone reading this needs to exchange some of their pleasures for some </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">REAL JOY</span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">…The ungodly relationship that you are in is a source of pleasure, presented by your adversary.. They will never produce Jesus joy.. Somehow, you have the pleasure twisted with your concept of joy. They illegal drug that you are so hooked to is a temporary pleasure because eventually, you’ll not be able to get enough to satisfy.. The feeling that the money gives you will only last as long as the money does.. She made your toes curl and he made you shout at the moon but it eventually stopped.. The Henney had you feeling nice last night but the hangover greeted you today…You so enjoyed acting ugly yesterday but for those who know better, guilt greeted you today..Nuff said</span><br><br><br><a contents="Chime in on my blog..Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.minkaibrown.com/myblogofnuggets.cfm%20"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 205);">Chime in at: http://www.minkaibrown.com/myblogofnuggets.cfm</span></a></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/34182292014-12-19T10:01:17-06:002014-12-19T10:01:47-06:00Are You a Bethlehem?<span class="font_large"><strong><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);">Got this revelation from my Word.. Peep it. Jesus was not born from a natural birth because conception came from Heaven via the Holy Ghost. It took that for Him to enter this earth. We cannot enter into heaven via a natural birth. It takes us yielding totally to Christ to where he enters into us</span>. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Are you a prepared Bethlehem for HIM?</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/34064032014-12-16T15:19:05-06:002014-12-18T13:52:51-06:00Cleaning House<span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large">Hey Family, I wanna help someone who has been praying and it seems that you just cannot get a "yes" from God. Someone reading this is about to either get mad at me or grow greatly. We tend to think that the ritualistic religious stuff that we do, places us in God’s good graces while all along we are living so sinful. So blinded by the rituals that you cannot see your sin behind the religious acts. I have heard of people doing dastardly acts right after saying a prayer or reading the Bible.. Like saying the prayer or reading the scriptures made everything alright. Here… Let me help you.. Before praying, try confessing to God the impure things that lie in your heart. Your body is your temple and you have been storing the trash can, which is full of filthy trash, right in your living room <strong>(your heart). </strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="font_large"><strong>The place for the trash is outside</strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169);"><span class="font_large">. Saying that, seek the trash in your life out, ask Go to strengthen you to want it out and get it out. <strong>Time for a little house cleaning</strong>… You need to stop expecting God to bless a mess.. Enough of the hypocrisy… <strong>Don’t hate me..</strong><br><br><br><strong>James 3:17-18 says</strong> </span></span><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span class="font_large">But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace</span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/33912062014-12-12T07:35:36-06:002014-12-12T07:40:10-06:00MERRY CHRISTMAS!<span class="font_large"><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Twas the month before Christmas When all through our land,<br>Not a Christian was praying Nor taking a stand.<br>Why the PC Police had taken away<br>The reason for Christmas - no one could say.<br>The children were told by their schools not to sing<br>About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.<br>It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say<br>December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.<br>Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit<br>Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!<br>CDs from Beyonce', an X BOX, an I-Pod<br>Something was changing, something quite odd!<br>Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa<br>In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.<br>As Targets were hanging their trees upside down<br>At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.</span><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);">At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears You won't hear<br>the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.<br>Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty<br>Are words that were used to intimidate me.<br>Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen<br>On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !<br>At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter<br>To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.<br>And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith<br>Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace<br>The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded<br>The reason for the season, stopped before it started.<br>So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'<br>Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.<br>Choose your words carefully, choose what you say<br>Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!</span></strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet MERRY CHRISTMAS! Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season</span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/33824132014-12-10T11:01:35-06:002014-12-11T03:17:59-06:00Switched at Birth<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">I am here to work with my new converts and assist you with your possible identity crisis’s. I have watched some of you struggling to fit into a system that you no longer belong to. The wicked system of our society. When you gave your life to the Lord, you were </span><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“switched at birth”. </span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">You no longer fit in to the world’s wicked scheme</span></strong><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">. The standard of your living is to be much higher now. You’ve gone from gutter most to uttermost. Instead of trying to go back and fitting in, you need to realize that you are foreign to them.. An alien.. Heaven is your new home… You can’t look like them, act like them, think like them because of your new </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>DNA</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">.. Why are you struggling with this? The square peg doesn’t fit into the circle…(Alien) If you’d only begin to see things from the eyes of God, you would be able to see just how jacked up you were and they are… You would stop struggling with the thought that you are like them… Someone loved you enough to switch you at your rebirth. You no longer belong with the old family.. You have a <strong>new Daddy</strong>.. Read 1 Peter.. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Your inheritance of heaven has great stipulations.. You have to know who you are..</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/33737742014-12-08T14:07:15-06:002014-12-08T14:14:04-06:00Sticking It Out<span class="font_large"><strong>I was in the book of Hebrews today. Chapter 10. Was thinking on how excited I get when I think of the things that I know God has for me. I also thought of how I sometimes get tired along the way. How many times that I thought of quitting. Tired of dealing with certain people.. Certain issues.. Seeing the same problems popping up. Some of you may have felt tired of trying to live right when you see folks living foul that seem to have it all. Don't believe the hype. I thought of friends that I have that started on the Christian journey.. Some using their gifts and talents in ministry and because of challenges so many of them just quit. Some preferred the fast cash and extra attention of doing secular music. Others expected life to all of the sudden to become easy and because it didn't, they decided that living Holy just wasn't worth it. Yet in the beginning they were so enthused by some vision of a promised land given by God. My daughter Alicia, like all of my kids is a good athlete. I used to like to see her run the mile. We could do a two hour plyometrics workout and she would still go out and simply smoke the mile run. She sets the goal before her and just knocks it out. But I've seen her in some of our other workouts. She'll sometimes complain, consider slacking or say that she can't go on. That is until I give her a target.. A goal to reach before finishing and she'll kick it into a new gear and get it done. Some of us have allowed stuff in life to block our vision of promise. We have allowed people to distract us and discourage us at times. We have let finances, joblessness, past relationships, lack of feeling respected by supervisors or peers, or loved get in the way of us enduring the walk with Christ. We must see each task, each issue, each challenge as a training session. It helps to build endurance for this race. In training, muscles are broken down to be rebuilt into stronger muscles. You may not initially be able to run a mile, but by pushing yourself more and more, your heart and lungs become stronger. You legs tire less. Ultimately your endurance increases. So many of us talk a good talk but have no heart. Not willing to build up our endurance. We need endurance to ultimately receive the promises of God. I want to be looked upon as one whose built to last. It is a necessity. Don't want to believe me? Argue with the WORD.... </strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><em>For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise</em></strong></span>. <strong>Hebrews 10:36</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/33597982014-12-04T08:38:40-06:002014-12-04T08:39:06-06:00Only God Can Judge Me<strong><span class="font_large">Was just thinking… So many of us when we know that we are jacked up, like to say to those looking on, “Only God Can Judge Me!” ..... Cute statement….We tat it on our bodies… Wear it on our t-shirts.. Well, I agree with you 1000%. Only God can judge us legitimately... Now that is out there on the table, let me ask this. When HE does, what will the verdict be? Are we still hiding behind that statement? Go right ahead... Keep playin' <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">#timewilltell #enoughofthecutelines</span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/33553782014-12-03T08:49:25-06:002014-12-03T08:54:33-06:00Taking The Risks<span class="font_large"><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">I want to encourage the reader to keep the faith. Life is full of risks. Some would say that having faith comes with certain risks. If one doesn’t exercise faith, they take a chance on missing out on the life that God has for them. We all are going to take certain risks and that is ok. Trusting God should be a risk that we all must be willing to take. I read a passage recently and the writer spoke on taking risks. I know I am going to probably mess this up</span>. <em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">He said to weep is to risk coming across as being too sentimental, to laugh is to risk coming across as a fool, To love is to risk not being loved in return, and to try is to risk failing</span>.</em> <span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);">If you risk nothing, then you do nothing. Let’s consider it a privilege for us to walk in faith with God. It places us in a place for HIM to do great things through us. And if you fall… So What.. Get up and try again. <strong>The heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 would have never been considered heroes if they never stepped out on faith.. </strong></span><br><br><br><span style="color: rgb(211, 211, 211);"><strong>Hebrews 11: 32-34</strong></span><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:<br>33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.<br>34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.</strong></em></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/33514522014-12-02T15:03:18-06:002014-12-03T08:45:55-06:00GET UP!!!!<span class="font_large"><strong>Hey family, Today has been a crazy day. I was feeling kinda down because my dad had to leave. One of my girls heard some news that she really didn’t want to hear. Just spoke to one of our new converts and he was feeling really down and lonely….. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ENOUGH IS ENOUGH</span>…I am moved to send out an encouraging word to the ones who feel like they have been simply buried underneath their circumstances and feel like everyone has left them for dead. You know how it is sometimes. When things go sour in your life, folks treat you like you have the plague. SOMETIMES EVEN YOUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS WILL DO IT. I was rereading about Lazarus. When Jesus arrived on the scene he had been dead long enough that his body had started to decompose. His own sister seemed to not want to be near him at that point because she spoke against them rolling away the stone of his burial place because his body stunk. His situation was considered to be a dead issue or a done deal. As folks kept trying to persuade Jesus that all was lost, he wept and also groaned in disappointment. As long as HE is on the scene we ought to know that no issue is a dead issue. Jesus spoke over Lazarus and life came back into his body. Here is what I have for you. Things may seem dark and dismal. Everyone may see your situation as a dead issue. They may be treating you like you have the plague but don’t you fall for that. No matter how much it stinks, Christ will go beyond that. No matter how far underneath you may find yourself buried in your circumstance, it is not too late. You are not finished yet! It is not over! Don’t just die there… <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BREAK OUT!</span> Can you hear HIM saying? <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">GET UP!</span><br><br>Read John 11</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/33097932014-11-20T13:41:28-06:002014-11-20T14:11:09-06:00Choices<span class="font_large"><strong>Today’s nugget is about making choices. My son and I have been talking a lot lately about making the right choices. What he is learning is it is not always so easy making the right choices. So many times choices are influenced by emotion.. Most of the time when we allow our emotions to guide our choices, regret is soon to follow. Someone reading this today is being faced with making a choice or certain choices. You have tried to avoid making them or have considered taking the “easy” way out, even though the “easy way” is the wrong way. Even when caught up in sin, we find out that though it is killing us, so many times, it FEELS SO GOOD! I am amazed at how many of us become slaves and develop the slave mentality. You accept where you are. Even try to make it appear as if you are in the right place… That there isn’t anything out there better for you… SLAVES… You refuse to do what is right so you continue to think wrong.. Eventually God’s version of wrong is right to you… You’ll even go as far as to attempt to twist the WORD to fit your circumstance.. You allow self righteous people to push you even further away… You are weakened.. You question or doubt that you are strong enough to make that right decision. Well let me shed some light on this for us.. You notice that I said us? Yep! The lord stands by to help us in our decision making. We just often leave HIM out. That’s why we jack things up so often. God wants what is best for us. Always has our best interest in mind. Look at the choice or choices that you need to make at this moment.. Before you move, invite the Lord to lead you and grasp unto HIM… Close your eyes as to say,” I trust you this much.. Where you lead, I will follow.. No matter how uncomfortable the journey may initially seem.” I like the way David put it in Psalms 37 verse 5.</strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass”.. In another interpretation it says, Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:</strong></em></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/33054882014-11-19T15:44:05-06:002014-11-24T09:09:22-06:00Have You Hurt His Feelings?<span class="font_large"><strong>I was reading John 14. Jesus was preparing the Disciples for his departure and he was giving words of comfort. And evidently HIS words were not comforting enough for Phillip. Phillip said he needed to see the FATHER. Jesus was irritated by this and asked the question, Have I been with you all this time and you still don’t know me? I look at it as Phillip had hurt the feelings of Jesus. Imagine the feeling, parents of your children forgetting who you are. Here is a story that I want to share. My great grandmother helped rear me. She adopted me when I was a teen. We were really close. I recall getting off duty and driving 12 hours to WVA , from Kansas just to spend a few hours with her and getting back in my car to make Monday mornings Guard mount. She later became stricken with bone cancer. I would come home, and spend time with her and we would forget about the cancer and enjoy each other so much. But then the cancer had spread to her brain. I recall the last time I saw her alive, I walked into her room excited to see her and she couldn’t recognize me. My grandmother, broke down in tears because she knew how close me and her mother were. I was shattered over the thought that my great grandma doesn’t know who I am. I ran out and sat on the porch and cried my eyes out. When she finally recognized that it was me, she had a look of hurt on her face that I’ll never forget. Imagine God being in your presence and you worrying about this, that or the other, Saying Lord, give me a sign or Lord where are you?.. Imagine the hurt HE must feel when He is standing right by your side. Promising, never to leave nor forsake you but you don’t recognize him. Have you hurt HIS feelings recently? I feel compelled to share this message today…Someone needs to know that God was with you all the time. He still is.</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32823752014-11-14T11:10:09-06:002014-11-14T11:10:45-06:00What You Say???<strong><span class="font_large">Psalm 34:13 says <em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile</span></em>. We must understand the power of our words. We tend to always underestimate the power of words.. Hey, the world was formed from a word spoken by God. Many wars have begun because of words.. Relationships damaged because of what folks have said. Speech is a gift and we should never use any of our gifts for evil. For the messy folks.. Try using your mouth only for praise and encouraging folks to do good. Stop saying things which could lessen the faith of others or hurt them. You’ll have to eat your own words one day. That’s scripture…Hmm</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32792342014-11-12T16:25:13-06:002014-11-12T16:27:48-06:00Do You Pollute or Purify? <strong><span class="font_large">I was watching a Touched by an Angel episode a while back and it was teaching about how a negative or bad attitude has the ability to wreck a community. It was a powerful message! It can wreck a home, a church, a ministry, a team.. The times that I have fallen to that trick of the enemy…. Early this morning, I was led to a familiar scripture and it has truly ministered to me. It created yet a new fire inside of me. I recalled the book of Numbers. Do you remember when Moses sent out the 12 spies to Canaan to get a look at the Promised Land? 10 of the 12 spies came back with negative reports. This attitude was picked up and accepted by over a million other Israelites. They were so negative that they wanted to stone the two spies who came back with positive reports and attitudes. The bad attitude of the 10 spies caused God to unleash HIS wrath upon them and the millions of unbelievers. Let me put out a strong word this morning… Don’t pick up any bad attitudes… They are extremely contagious.. They are extremely deadly… Stay away from negative people and negative thoughts.. When folks try to fill your head with negative or angry thoughts, resist by all means necessary. Don’t let negative church folk, talk you out of getting to Jesus with their religious mindsets. I shared with my daughter Alicia, that receiving messages from folks is like eating fish. You have to slowly go through it. Remove the bones and eat the meat of conversations. If she were to get caught up in the bony stuff, she could find herself choking and dying. I am attempting to teach my kids that godly people are not negative but serve as purifiers. They have healthy attitudes.. Not gloom and doom people at all. That is because they realize that God has the final say in everything and HE always has our best interest in mind. We cannot get caught up in negative thoughts, words and feelings.. And when receiving reports, we know better than receiving the negative ones.. People with negative attitudes point you to disaster.. Their words are deceiving. Now folks with positive attitudes (<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">the purifiers</span>) have the ability to be in a rotten atmosphere and make everything around them better.. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Purifiers</span> have the ability to take in the toxic things that negative people (let me call them <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">polluters</span>) say and filter them before they respond or pass along to others. Positive people (<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Purifiers</span>) may go into a dark situation or place, but when they leave, that atmosphere becomes fresh and clean. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Polluters</span> receive what they put out… doom and gloom (read Numbers 14:36-37)… Purifiers inherit blessings (Read Numbers 14:24)… Listen, if we are who God has called us to be, people will leave our presence feeling better.. They will want to be around us… The scent that attracts blessings will be present wherever we go. So………. Ask yourself…. Am I a <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Purifier</span> or a<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> Polluter?</span>.. Talent, skill, and experience isn’t contagious.. Folks just can’t quickly pass them on… But attitude is contagious! What are you passing along?<br><br><br>When you have time.. Read Numbers 13 and 14… Please remember that negativity and a bad attitude, kills……</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32694932014-11-06T12:17:05-06:002014-11-07T13:47:53-06:00Tomorrow<strong><span class="font_large">I was reading today and had lots of stuff on my mind. Then, all of the sudden I was led to a few scriptures which made me think of the important stuff. We say it all of the time but let me reiterate this... Life is short.. Middle age and old age (If one is blessed to be able to see it), arrives quickly. Also just in my readings, I understand even more that tomorrow isn't promised. As a matter of fact my WORD tells me that life on this earth is like a vapor. James 4:14.. It is <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">TEMPORARY</span> loan from God. Think of how many days we have wasted. God can call our time up, whenever HE so chooses.. One of ours could expire today. How are you living today? Is there any unfinished spiritual business that you need to handle. Is there a relationship that you are letting break down because of your pride and self righteousness? Are you really living life with eternity in your view? Are you ready to see Jesus face to face? Are you ready to see your loved ones leave this earth and have a good feeling about your relationship with them or is it still all about you? Just dare to think.. Tomorrow, you could be staring Jesus in the face, begging HIM to vouch for you before the FATHER..<br><br>James 4:14... <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.</em></span><br><br>It hit me today and causes me to constantly realize that I am just passing through this place. I listened to a song and the singer said " If I've done anything against your will, If I've caused anyone to lay awake at night, to cry lonely tears, to feel misused.... Lord, please forgive me. I look over the many times when I felt and acted like life was all about me and how no one else really matter because I had to be right or win the argument. My way or the highway.. All the hurtful words I've said and hurtful things that I've done. The times when I imposed my will upon others wrongfully, all for the sake of me being "right".. So much wasted time of the little that I have left. Not sure of how long my vapor is to last but I want to look at it in preparation for tomorrow. How do you see tomorrow? Chew on that nugget... psssss. That's the sound of your vapor...</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32694252014-11-06T10:33:58-06:002014-11-06T10:34:32-06:00I prayed for you Today... Go on... Read it<strong><span class="font_large">Read this slowly… I am praying for you as you read this.. I pray that God the Father takes a good look at you… And anything that is not pleasing in HIS sight, be removed through a spiritual surgery that only HE can do.. That you stand blameless before Him on the Day of Judgment.. That your whole world is changed for the better.. Let HEALING fall upon you, in every facet of your life. Your family, your body, your finances, your relationships.. Let this work begin on the inside of you and be undeniable on the outside. Yes, I am praying that some of the folks that you are affiliated with, that are detrimental to your spirit walk, be removed. Even if you don’t want them gone. I pray that God separate them and do a new work in them as well. But for the moment, every blessing blocker in your life, must go.. May you discover what <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">REAL</span> joy is. Have a reason to dance and sing in the Lord.. Find out what a True relationship in Christ is. Not the mumbo jumbo stuff that you are being told and taught with all of the theatrics that preachers and teachers bring. I pray that your space is invaded by the Holy Spirit. Not the false spirits that some are introducing you to. I pray that as I close this out. You feel the very presence of The HOLY SPIRIT moving in your midst.. I want it for you badly today… Time for a change.. Receive it in the awesome name of Jesus the Christ… Amen</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32600982014-10-31T10:16:02-05:002014-11-02T07:29:10-06:00Don't Fall Off!<span class="font_xl">John 14:13 says that <strong><em>whatsoever you ask in HIS name(<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jesus</span>), HE will do</em></strong>. Sounds like just say “in Jesus name” and it is a done deal. <strong>Not !</strong> Christ has to be dominating every interest in your life daily. Be the center of who you are and what you do. If you truly abide in HIM, your desires and choices become God’s already ordained decrees. The thing is, so many fall off from wanting to truly abide in Christ. My Nugget is, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>DON'T FALL OFF!</strong></span> Want HIM and want HIM desperately.</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32562422014-10-29T11:59:43-05:002014-10-30T11:46:10-05:00Walk Away!<strong><span class="font_large">My conversation with a young brother some time back sent me to David’s words again. The young guy was venting. He said it seems that the more he tries to live a peaceful life, folks work on pressing his buttons. He has previously struggled with his temper and had previous anger management woes. Look, I know that it is hard being people of peace nowadays. We feel weak when attempting to live a meek lifestyle. This world is getting crazier by the second. I ask God to teach us when to fight and when to walk away from one. As this guy spoke I recalled a verse that David spoke in Psalm 120. He said <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>“ I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. “</em></span> Evidence that we aren’t the only ones who were faced with such issues. We don’t always have to beat someone down.. I recall a few times when I fought , won and still walked away feeling like a loser on the inside. Nothing was gained from it. Sometimes we need to simply walk way. The enemy is simply trying to set us up for failure. Why fight a defeated foe?</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32427522014-10-21T10:56:35-05:002014-10-21T15:00:28-05:00Love that covers<span class="font_large"><strong>Hey Family,<br>I have been battling within lately. Talked to several of my spiritual mentors and they all basically shared the same godly guidance. Most of all they shared the message of love with me. I then was led to the scriptures to see an individual who I never paid alot of attention to.<br><br>It really made me want to share this morning with you. I was reading the book of Acts and was looking at Stephen. Such a powerful guy. Wherever he went, signs and wonders followed his ministry.. That is my hope. I want God to do the ridiculous through me. I know that to have such power, it will take me having one key element for sure. The Spirit of Love. That love which is given only by the Holy Spirit. That 1 Corinthians 13 stuff. I looked at Stephen and as he was being stoned by folks that hated them, he prayed for them… Just as Jesus did as he was being crucified. That comes only by the real spirit of love. When you can really love those that mean you no good, then you can operate and have signs and wonders follow you. When you can show love when loving isn’t popular, signs and wonders will follow you. Your love will cover a multitude of sins, to include yours. Look what the love of Christ does for us. You just don’t wake up with this stuff. You have to earnestly pray and wait for it. You won’t have to broadcast that you have it. It will be evident, that it exists in you. Folks who don’t have it won’t understand it. I am learning this every day. that love will attract all kinds of folks. The “good ones” and the “undesireable”. If you are reading this, I want you to know that I love you today. For no reason at all and you cannot do anything to change that.. God did it and you cannot undo it. I recently told my folks that it sometimes seems to be a burden. Because of my love for folks, I can’t sleep at night. Sometimes walk the floor. I see what others cannot see in them.. Why would God give this to me? I have no clue but I am so glad that He did!<br><br>I was so moved by this scripture today: I read acts 7:44-60 but here is the scripture that got me today….<br><br>Acts 7:60 <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep</em></span><br><br><em>I HEAR YOU LORD!!!! LOUD AND CLEAR!</em></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32371992014-10-17T10:22:20-05:002014-10-17T11:03:35-05:00What Kind of Fruit Are You bearing?<span class="font_large"><strong>I was reading Galatians 5 today and I have a short but to the point nugget for you. So many of us get caught up in our deeds. We forget that we are justified by our faith and not our deeds alone. We couldn’t do enough to earn salvation. Spittin’ and slobbering at the alter doesn’t deliver you or make you holier than the next person. Yet we do our best to put on “The Show” .. Who has the best church dance? Who speaks more eloquently in tongues? Who can sing them under the benches or preach them out of their wigs? Newsflash! When we walk by the Spirit, we receive power to bear the Spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience (long suffering), kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, and self control. When you see me, I want you to see the fruit of the spirit working in me over my mere deeds. Read Galatians 5 and eat up!</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32356322014-10-16T12:31:18-05:002014-10-16T12:33:01-05:00I WON'T FORGET!<strong><span class="font_large">I was in the book of Revelation this morning, stopped at verse 17 of chapter one and John spoke of being in the presence of Jesus and in such awe that he fell at the feet of Jesus as if he were dead. In other words, he looked upon one that made him see just how insignificant or limited he was. I have seen this scripture before but I actually went there. What will I do when I lay my eyes on HIM? I often have said to my youth and young adults about our conduct in the sanctuary, “how can folks act the way that they do in the sanctuary when we call it God’s house? If HE were to dwell in it or if we truly believe that HE dwells there, how can we act the way we do in it? How can we allow such foolishness and disrespect for HIM to be in there?” I actually have found myself afraid to be in the sanctuary at times because of knowing that things weren’t right. I am a believer that we can be guilty by association. I live to serve God and his people. I didn’t always see it that way. I understand that I must be careful with my praise, worship and service. HE is watching me. I cannot compromise the covenant that I made (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">yes, I made a covenant with GOD</span>), in order to please people. I cannot allow myself to see myself in any other way than a servant. So many have asked why do you still call yourself “minister brown”, when you have been ordained for years? Folks get so caught up in titles that they take them as power. God called me to be a servant. That is the word minister defined. If I am to be lifted up, I prefer God to do it over man. I was ordained to be who I am in Christ long before any man or woman laid thier hands on me. I recall upon being ordained that the preacher looked at me and said “no turning back now…” I didn’t get hyped and thought “yeah, now I can make folks listen to me.” I actually started balling my eyes out because I really got to see the weight that was placed upon me. Ministry weighs…<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Being called Reverend, Minister, Pastor, Bishop, Apostle ect. Is not really a place of glamor</span>… But folks do their best to make it that way. Don’t think folks don’t go there because I’ve seen it over and over again. We tend to get puffed up on our accomplishments, positions, and titles, when in a nutshell these things came by the grace and goodness of God. So many of this stuff comes totally undeserving. If HE were to remove HIS hand from our lives we would fall dead… We must begin to see that we are so limited in what we can do without HIM. Once we see ourselves as the filthy rag and fall at HIS feet in submission, we can do anything and accomplish so much more. But Whenever in HIS presence, we ought to be so humble that we MUST lay before him prostrate. Let’s humble ourselves before the ALMIGHTY today and forever more. Today’s Nugget is let’s not forget.</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32265252014-10-10T08:30:33-05:002014-10-10T08:35:51-05:00My Appreciation Goes to.....<span class="font_large">Hey Fam, today, folks have been raving about the game between Houston and the Colts. They seem to be so appreciative of such a good game. I did see it, by the way. It made me think again on the word gratitude…. Stay with me. I often say in Sunday service that it is a shame that on Sunday afternoon folks will lose their minds cheering for their favorite football team and players but when it comes to giving praise to the one responsible for our existence and our many blessings, we become too cool or seem to have no real gratitude. We take it all for granted. Let’s be truly thankful for all that GOD is and does for us. Even for the things that stretch and stress us, because even they work out for our good. Before the next blessing falls on us, Let’s thank God in advance… Guess what? Too late.. Some think that I’m a fanatic. The answer is yes..<strong> I love my NY Giants… My Yankees and still love them Steelers</strong>.. Loved watching them win every championship that I was able to witness but my gratitude is to the one who saved me.. that is who gets my true applause today.. So.. As I like to say on Sunday mornings… The Grateful folks only… That is if you aren’t ashamed to rep Him right and find HIM worthy…. <strong>GIVE GOD SOME EAR BLEEDING PRAISE!</strong> I recall Jesus thanking the Father before receiving an answer from him. Just because HE knew that the Father had already heard HIM…<br><br>John 11:41<br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><em>So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, <span class="woj">“Father, I thank you that you have heard me.</span> </em></strong></span></span><br><br><br><span class="font_large">If you have prayed about it, why not just thank God ahead of time instead of worrying while you wait. Release a ridiculous Praise….</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32247482014-10-09T09:26:42-05:002014-10-10T12:22:36-05:00What Is Your True Desire?<span class="font_large"><strong>Wow… I got into my WORD this morning and was blown away at what was revealed. I just had to share this on today. We always seem to be wanting to receive some great thing from God. Some desire status, fortune, or fame. Some seek titles from academia, politics, and social groups. ” I wanna be called doctor, The President, City Councilman, Pastor, a Delta, a Kappa, Step with the Que’s ect.. That is what I want.. That would be a milestone in my life..” I look at the one who wins the lottery. So many times they have the initial joy of the money and eventually if the money doesn’t go away, the joy that they felt does. We have some who ask to be preachers but don’t understand the pain and struggle that comes along with it at times. Some pray for a mate and don’t realize the work it takes to make it work. All of these things we seek for ourselves…. I have come to see that the one thing that we truly should desire is to know God. So many say that they are seeking HIM but it is for what they think that they can get for themselves. We have to be willing to totally give up ourselves to HIM for whatever HE decides to do with and for us. Let’s desire the right relationship with HIM. See if we desire to know HIM we won’t have to worry about him knowing what we are in need of. There is a scripture that says that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>“Your father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask HIM.”</em></span> Ask yourself, what is it that you want from God and why do you want it? Is it for selfish reasons. God is more concerned with the final result in you over the quick fix. If you are seeking greatness, let it be for the glory of GOD. Get to know HIM for the sake of having a true relationship with him. That is what we really should desire. Read this:<br><br>Jeremiah 45:5 <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.</em></span><br><br>Check yourself… What is it that you desire?</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32212922014-10-07T12:07:58-05:002014-10-07T12:10:58-05:00IT WILL WORK OUT<span class="font_large"><strong>I want to give an encouraging word to someone who finds themselves in an uncomfortable position. Chances are, you have been there before but you have forgotten. Don’t fret… Check your historical data.. History is about to repeat itself. Let me go this way. I want to revisit my daughter Alicia’s freshman year. She was on the basketball team and she had found herself in a familiar place but had chosen to handle things the same way that she has always done so. Over the years as she has gone to new teams, the transition has never been smooth. She has had to do new things, play with new players. Listen to new coaches basically tell her that she is not either ready, or as good as their players that they have had, in their own subtle way. Her typical response has been to take a back seat to everyone else and carry her emotions on her sleeve. I have seen her new team mates over the years act as if they were the superior players because of her quiet and sometimes docile disposition. I’ve actually heard some of the remarks made by other players when they thought she wasn’t listening.. In the past I would see them kind of call her out to make themselves look good on the court. They’d line up on her and attempt to make themselves look good. She would allow this stuff to happen for a short period and then ultimately, I would remind her of who she is, then folks had to learn to respect who she was and what she was capable of doing. She has had coaches tell her how broken her game was or how far she was behind. She had coaches who wouldn’t trust her as a guard but wanted her to play as a post player, which is not what she will play in college. They loved that she was strong and knew how to score from down there. Forget what was best for her personally as a player. One Coach told her not to dribble, one coach told players not to pass her the ball in critical situations, one coach told her not to shoot the ball, and one told her that she couldn’t play with the big girls on a national scene. After I helped deprogram all of that garbage out of her head, I reminded her of where she comes from. She not only showed up, but she showed out. I’ve had one of the local coaches who did this to her come with a lame apology and a bunch of excuses for how he handled her, years later. I told him that he simply helped make her better. His assistant coach had a daughter on my daughter’s team now and initially he was uncomfortable around us. We never forgot but again realized that it was a role that they played in making her better. I didn’t like it back then but I knew that in the end God would work it out. I have taught her that she is not just a seed of two athletes but a royal seed of God. I told her that she is not an annual <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">(a seed that cannot stand the harsh winter months)</span>, but a perennial <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">(One who is not only tough enough but able to be moved from place to place and still a flourish)</span>. I told her to not get caught up in the rainy seasons of her life because it helps the soil around her. I told her not to get caught up in the feelings of her being dumped on.. Every plant needs fertilizer. I reminded her of all the coaches who has attempted to place their favorites before her and in the spotlight.. Their efforts were futile and because she was willing to do the dirty work and not seek the limelight, she has time and time again stood out. I reminded her that her accomplishments are more than hype. Bottom line, I reminded her that in our family, we have all gone through stuff. Some of the things were unpleasant, they hurt, they left scars and they served as reminders of how God has brought us through. Bottom line, things have always worked out in our favor. She played ball this summer, during the division 1 schools evaluation period. She didn’t play as well as she could when she first went out. We thought that coaches were going to not be interested. Other players seemed to do better in the first two tournaments. She went to play in Washington DC to finish the summer off and she played extremely well. She got to play the point and she rose above whatever came upon her. Many went out to play in September to allow the colleges to get one last look at them. We chose to have her just work on getting better and stronger. Some thought that it was a bad idea. Well currently she is being contacted regularly by quite a few D1 schools. Not simple letters but emails and weekly phone calls. We understand that the process is still a long one but there is evidence that God has his hands on her. We were amazed at the schools who are interested in her that saw her in those the tournaments that we felt she didn’t do what she was capable of doing. To hear them tell her that they are not simply inquiring about her but are very interested in her as a student athlete is so cool. It is working out. My message is for the one who finds themselves in a tough spot. You may feel uncomfortable, alone, beat up on, tired, or inadequate… Don’t worry.. Check the historical data.. Has God not always worked it out in your favor? It may not feel good right now but it will work out for your good. I am quick to remind my family of tests and triumphs. How we don’t have to take a back seat to folks but work hard and know that God always has the final say.. He has created you the cream of the crop. Though they may attempt to classify you as regular milk, when it all settles, you will rise to the top. Can’t keep a good man/woman down…..<br><br>To the one reading this… Know that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">IT WILL WORK OUT</span>… Your family situation will work out.. Your financial situation <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WILL WORK OUT</span>.. Your situation in school or on the job <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WILL WORK OUT</span>…. Your health situation <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WILL WORK OUT</span>.. Your career goals <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WILL WORK OUT</span>.. Your Salvation <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WILL WORK OUT</span>..<br><br>I was given a familiar scripture to share with you today.. Why? Because the message was a simple one.. You have been here before.. ACT LIKE IT.. Historical data shows that it always works out in your favor.<br><br>Romans 8:28 <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>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</em></span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32193202014-10-06T10:14:21-05:002014-10-06T10:16:30-05:00The Power of the WORD<span class="font_large">Hey Family,<br><br>I want to talk about the power of the WORD of God. Sharper than any two-edge sword. Yes, that Word. The WORD that so many of us struggle to read, study, and live by. I have some readers today who are struggling because their lives are not aligned with Gods’ WORD. I had a preacher give me the “SECRET” to making songs that will definitely be successful. No, not according to how much money they bring in but by the lives they positively effect. For you song writers, do you really wanna know? Here it is.. <strong>Add the WORD of God in your songs</strong>. Let it be your message. I have had many people tell me how much my music has ministered to them. The main ones are the ones with scripture in them. Look, this is where I am going today. We need to read Gods’ WORD. Take it in… Hear it… If you will allow it, the WORD will bring about an alignment between your will and God’s will. Gods’ will for you life will be done on earth if you allow the WORD to minister to you. It works every time.. Ok Brown… Back that by scripture.<br><br><br><strong>Isaiah 55:11</strong><br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please , and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it…</em></span></strong><br><br>In other words, God says <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>“MY will achieve the purpose for which I sent it” that is for you and your life as well"</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32158412014-10-03T09:50:28-05:002014-10-03T10:17:26-05:00The Missing Piece To The Puzzle<span class="font_large"><strong>This is a perfect nugget for those of you with short attention spans.. Straight and to the point. I ask you to reference the scripture mentioned below. Here it is..If we don’t do what God has called us to do because of fear and a busy schedule, then we have a visual impairment. We are focusing more on ourselves and not enough on the Lord. If you won't move forward because of how your situation appears, you have a visual impairment. Though you may feel blinded, step out on faith and breathe <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Philippians 4:13</span>. So many times, we feel like something’s missing in our life’s quest for victory, love, peace and joy. After self evaluation, you might see that the piece that’s missing in your puzzle is you and your faith. It aint over till God says it's over. It is not a dead issue. You can do it.. You can have it.. You can achieve it.. Most of all, with God, ALL things are possible. Now back to you... If this short nugget ministers to you and your situation, say it with me.. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"I CAN!"</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32140552014-10-02T10:34:15-05:002014-10-02T15:05:20-05:00Blink<strong><span class="font_large">I was in a conversation with a guy at work some time back. He told me about a feud that he had with his older brother which had lasted for 6 years. A couple of days later he got word that his Brother who lived overseas was killed in a car accident. He told me of how so many times he wanted to call and say that he was sorry or to act as if nothing ever happened but he just couldn't bring himself to doing it. He used the saying "Wow, here today, gone tomorrow". We began to speak on the brevity of life in itself. I mentioned to him that how in a short span of time I said goodbye to my mother, great grandfather, great uncle, great grandmother and grandmother.. All in such a short time. My mother took me by total surprise..Never saw it coming.. I decided to go to the word just to show that what he said was so true.. Here today, gone tomorrow..He is a dedicated parishioner at his church and reads his bible often he says. I was led to mention that life changes in each millisecond. So many times we take for granted that everything will stay the same for at least a minute. Well I took him to the scripture which explains the second coming of Christ. The Word says that this will all go down in a twinkling of an eye. I see this as I must be ready now. Not in two minutes but now. Someone reading this, ask yourself, do you really want to be ready? Are you willing to roll the dice and take the chance that your next hour is a sure thing? Do me a favor as you read this.....<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BLINK</span>.... Think, time could have been up for you, just that fast... are you willing to keep taking such a gamble with your life. That someone that you need to share a word of love with, may not be around tomorrow. Your sibling or parent may not make it to the next hour. That friend who you never made up with or told them that you love them may not be around for you to swallow your pride or get over yourself. If you are sorry, say it. If you love them, tell them. If you didn't mean it, tell them.. BLINK.. It could have been over already... Fix it now..<br><br>Today's nugget came from 1 Corinthians 15:52... <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.</em></span><br><br>So many of us have heard this at funerals and we still didn't get it. My fellow worker possibly had to hear that again at his brothers homegoing.</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32122362014-10-01T09:34:25-05:002014-10-01T09:37:39-05:00YOU AINT SO SMART!<span class="font_large">Hey Family,<br><br>I want to speak to the intellect of the believer today. I have learned that we can’t think as the world thinks. God’s ways of doing things are so opposite. I am evidence of that. I would have <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">never</span></strong> chosen me to preach and teach the gospel as I look at my knack of fouling things up. Some of you who haven’t fallen into the “I am so holy” mode or “I’ve been in church and saved all of my life.” Mindset would agree with me if you’d dare to take a good look at yourselves. Anyway, this is the thinking of the world: <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 205);"><em>Go to this self empowerment class, strive for personal improvement, work on your inner strength. It is all about “YOU”…</em></span></strong> <strong>Well in our walk we die to self in order to live in Christ, lose to find, and surrender in order to be strong. Jesus conquered death and the grave and we stand on that knowing that we shall never face any foe greater.</strong> We learn that we have to stop trying to control the outcome of every situation that we face and stop requiring God to resolve our problems in the ways that we see fit. When we do that we get to see just how awesome God is. We find HIM to be a <strong>deliverer</strong>, a <strong>savior</strong>, a <strong>trouble settler</strong>, a<strong> healer</strong>, and a <strong>way maker</strong>. If we controlled the outcome, He’d never get any glory out of our lives. Someone reading this, needs to pray, <strong>“Father, Your will be done, in my life.”</strong> This will allow your ideas of how things should be to be removed and God’s ideas on how they should be to take control. You struggle to follow the Lord because you refuse to trust that HE knows best. Well let me tell you this…. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>YOU AINT SO SMART!</strong></span> Living a life of faith will allow you to trust God more without being able to see what is about to come upon you in life. The process of growing in Christ takes trust and backward thinking when compared to the world’s standards.<br><br>Hopefully this familiar scripture will open some cloudy eyes and minds today:<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><em>“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”</em></strong></span> <strong>declares the Lord.<br><br>Isaiah 55:8</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32104512014-09-30T09:01:11-05:002014-09-30T09:02:57-05:00Team Unstoppable!<span class="font_large">I have a quick one to share today. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>PLEASE</strong></span> do not read it quickly, but digest it slowly. This will actually save someone's life who is reading this today.. We tend to put too much stock in ordinary people. We sometimes allow folks to bring us to unbelievable lows. You trusted him... She was a sure thing.. Then the bottom fell out and you realized that they were mere humans... Flawed... And not good enough, if you were to be honest. They couldn't give you the security that you needed.. the joy that you deserve... The love that you so desire.. They fell waay sort. We all take risks.. Roll the dice.. All looking for the one "Sure thing". We want something or someone who will give us that extra edge and make us amazing. When tough times come, we want to be able to know that tough times won't be enough to stop us.. That we can slay any of life's giants. Well the only one who is a sure thing is God.. Seems simple but we forget that all of the time. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>With God, we always win.. We are invincible.. We are loved to the brim. Joy is unspeakable.. Peace is perfect... Failure isn't an option.. No situation or opposition is strong enough.. </strong></span>Get on the team.. Once on there, nothing else will matter..<br><br><strong>Psalm 118:6</strong> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><em>The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? </em></strong></span><br><br>Knowing this, someone tell me, how could you not be hyped up? How could you be down in the dumps?<br><br><strong>I don't know about you, but I feel as if I just can't lose. I jump around this morning.. Thump my Chest.. Why? Because I'm on the winning side. I'm on "Team Jesus"... "Team Unstoppable".. Death can't take us.. Persecution can't Brake us... Haters can't shake us..</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32050242014-09-26T09:13:25-05:002014-09-26T10:35:52-05:00I BELIEVE!!!<span class="font_large">I was revisiting Lazarus this morning and as I went through the story, today's nugget came to me. I know we often use the saying Blessings delayed don't mean blessings denied. I recall how the disciples wanted Christ to be in a hurry to the aid of Lazarus but Jesus just took HIS time. I recall HIM saying to them that Lazarus was dead and that he was glad about it. He said that it would be for the sake of their belief. He knew that if He could show them that no situation is a dead situation unless HE declares it. This is just like us. We get caught up in what we are doing, where we are and what we are going through to the point that we forget what Jesus is doing and what HE can do. So many times we are allowed to go through things so that HE can prove exactly how limitless HIS power is. Someone reading this... <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Pump your brakes</strong></span>... Here is the nugget. <strong>Your situation may stink like death.. Look like death.. You may feel like you are dying or the that cause that you were fighting for is a lost cause... Chances are it is all being done for the sake of your belief. Though God has delayed it, HE hasn't denied it... Trust in how God chooses to answer your prayers.. HE is working on building your faith.. Stop limiting HIS ability to bring you out and place you on top.</strong> Shout a shout of victory right where you are.. Even louder if you are finding yourself on the bottom or in what seems to be a dead state or situation.<br><br>Feast on this and read the story.. Stop on this scripture and when finished, eat the rest: When Jesus heard that, He said, <em><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." </span></strong></em>John 11:4<br><br>Even when you struggle to believe, speak aloud. Say it with me this morning. <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“I BELIEVE!”</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32032252014-09-25T08:22:41-05:002014-09-25T08:24:17-05:00Shut Up!<span class="font_large">I recall the disciples and Jesus being in a small vessel and a storm came upon them. Jesus was in the stern of the vessel, asleep. The disciples panicked. They began to attempt to battle the storm. The storm didn’t let up.. They began to cry out and panic even more. Suddenly someone remembered that Jesus was on board. They approached Jesus… Panicking.. They’d ask if HE cared if they died.. Jesus got up in the midst of all the panicking disciples. The same ones who time and time again, witnessed HIS miracle working power… They didn’t stop panicking when they saw HIM arrive to the scene.. He had to get the situation under control… He said this: <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>PEACE</strong></span>..(In other words, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>SHUT UP</strong></span>) … Now that HE had their attention.. He spoke to the storm and raging sea.. HE said “<strong>BE STILL</strong>”… I know that you may be going through a storm and you may have tried to fight it yourself.. Don't be surprised when the storm doesn't automatically let up when you attempt to fight it.. Jesus is in your midst… <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Stop all of your belly aching and whining</span>… <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Stop all the noise making </span>.. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>SHUT UP!</strong></span> And now watch how the MASTER of life’s storms, and seas handle your little problem…. If you want to do something to help, try speaking to your storm. <strong>Tell it to Stop, Be Still, Go Away, Cease and desist</strong>… I have found out that in my life, every time that I make up my mind to do something big, storms come. Hit my job, hit my family, hit my body.. If not conscious of the devices and tactics of the adversary, I begin to stress out. Feel sick in by body.. Lash out towards those who love me.. See the worse in the situation. All the time taking in deadly water.. Sinking in the situation.. Then, Praise God, I have been able to be reminded of a promise that HE will never leave nor forsake me or mine. That’s when I shut up… After I settle down, the Lord speaks… It may come across as being rude today but someone reading this initially just needs to<strong> SHUT UP.</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/32014052014-09-24T09:05:06-05:002014-09-24T14:00:37-05:00The Value of SaltHey Family... I wanna teach this morning. This will take time... If you don't have time to digest slowly, wait to read this when you do...<br><br><br><em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candle stick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. </strong></span><strong>Matthew 5:13-15</strong></em><br><br><br><span class="font_large">There is a Roman proverb that was probably around during Jesus’ time and it says <strong>“Nil sole et sale utilius.” </strong>It translates “There is nothing more useful than the Sun and Salt” Is this not what Jesus just told the disciples that is what they are. Salt and Light.<br> <br>If we are Salt and Light, then we are what is known as a Catalyst: One of the definitions of a catalyst is: A person or thing that causes a change! You are the salt of the earth. No, not him, not her, <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">YOU, Disciple of Christ!</span></strong> Why is that most of us wait until someone else “starts” to intervene before we get involved. There is an ABC show called “What Would You Do?” They put actors in public places and have them doing things that need to be stopped. Here are a few: A man at a bar puts something into a blind dates drink, a homeless man is walking and passes out in the middle of the street, a bakery store clerk is making crude remarks to a blind customer and cheats him out of some money, a Hispanic man is being attacked physically and verbally by a 3 men. A young couple is arguing and the male is physically threatening the female. These are but a few. Most times, people don’t get involved until some brave soul steps up and intervenes. Then everyone wants to be brave. Later for that! Jesus has called us out with his statement. You are the salt of the earth. You have been charged! We must not just sit back and allow this world to crumble. If the world needs what we have, then we must give it to them! No if, ands and or buts about it. We must be catalyst in society today. Too many of us are hoarding our Christianity. We never share the good news with anyone, and that is plain wrong. Jesus said Go ye therefore and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>TEACH</strong></span> all nations, not sit back and get fat off the Word! Shame on you!<br> <br>Allow me do a little teaching here. Before we go into what salt does, allow me to go a little deeper into the thing we call salt, and its value. In Jesus’ time, salt was a precious commodity! That’s right, precious! Because we can just go down to Wal-Mart and pick up a box of salt for what, $0.70, and because of this, I truly believe something important is lost to us in what Jesus was saying.<br> <br>Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in Salt. Slaves were traded for salt. That’s where the expression “worth one’s salt” comes from. The Latin word for salt, sal, is the basis for the English word salary! Another phrase was <strong>SAL DARE,</strong> meaning “To Give Salt” Salt was valuable, salt was precious! Jesus is telling us that we are precious! We are valuable! We are useful! We are needed! You are precious, valuable and useful to Jesus and to the world! How does that make you feel? Do you believe that? <strong>Isa 43:4 </strong>says <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>“Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable and I have loved thee!” </em></span></strong>and since we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever more, We are still precious in his sight! You ought to be excited about that!<br> <br>Not only is salt precious and valuable, it’s also useful! Unlike other Precious and valuable things like Rubies, emeralds, diamonds, pearls, gold, silver and other such things, which is only good to look at or be used to prop up a table, salt can be used in a variety of different ways.<br> <br><strong>SEASONS:</strong> Have you ever had some McDonald’s fries that had no salt? What about a pork chop or even a hamburger. What about popcorn with no salt? You know what, I could probably deal with salt less Mcdonalds fries, or even the burger, but the one thing I can’t eat w/o salt is POPCORN! There is just something about salt that makes things taste better! Helps bring out the flavor! I love salt on my watermelon. SOME PEOPLE put salt on EVERYTHING! When we do that, we run the risk of hypertension. We are to be a seasoning influence to the world around us: In our homes, on our jobs, in our recreation, in our community and even in the church. Salt brings out the natural goodness in foods and we are to bring out the natural goodness in people. However, just like eating too much natural salt, we must be careful not to give people spiritual hypertension by being overzealous. In everything, use moderation. Col 4:6 says Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.<br> <br><strong>PRESERVES:</strong> Salt is a preservative and this world definitely needs to be preserved? In biblical times, they used salt to preserve their food. They didn’t have refrigerators and freezers to keep their food safe. If food isn’t properly preserved, what happens to it? That’s right, it spoils. It goes bad. It begins to rot. Isn’t that what our society is doing right now? Our society is rotting. There is so much sin in this world right now. You can’t turn on the TV with seeing all the murders, all the crime. And it’s kids who are doing a lot of the crimes. You got abortion happening all the time, sexual immorality is crazy, even in the church! I don’t know if it’s true or not, but look at bishop eddie long. There are so many pastors and high profile preachers and artist having affairs. Look at Sodom and Gomorrah. The issue wasn't that wicked people were everywhere. The real problem is that God’s people were nowhere to be found! There was no preserving influence, and evil just went unchecked, for bad to worse. God promised Abraham that if he could find 10 righteous people, he wouldn’t destroy the city. Abraham started off at 50 and wound up at 10. Only 10 righteous people were needed to save an entire city. We all know the outcome. Instead of us being salt in order to preserve our society, we want to stay away for the unsaved. We want to come to our big beautiful churches in our fancy clothes and look down our noses at the unsaved. They got mad at Jesus because he ate with sinners. We are too holy to be around certain people! Sometimes the only Jesus people will ever see is the Jesus in us, so we have to go where they are. The bible says once we are converted, to strengthen thy brother.<br> <br><strong>ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE:</strong> The bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Our bodies crave salt. We must have salt in our diet. Without salt we’d suffer form a condition called “hyponatremia” Some side effects of hyponatremia are: dehydration, heart palpitations, weakness, confusion, slurred speech, nausea and in some cases, seizures, coma, or death if left untreated. Now, I told you before that you are useful. Remember the Roman saying “Nil sole et sale utilius”? There is nothing more useful than sun and salt? If we aren’t out being the salt of the earth, our families, our friends, our co-workers, and our community will continue to suffer from spiritual hyponatremia symptoms like:<br> <strong><em>Dehydration</em></strong>- John 6:35 says “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall <strong>never</strong> hunger; and he that believeth on me shall <strong>never thirst</strong>.” Be salt.<br><strong><em>Heart Palpitations</em></strong> are when you feel like your heart is pounding or racing. PSM 24:17 wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine <strong>heart</strong>: wait, I say, on the LORD. Be salt.<br><strong><em>Weakness</em></strong>: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:18, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Phil 4:13. Be salt.<br><strong><em>Confusion</em></strong>: <strong>Let</strong> <strong>this</strong> <strong>mind</strong> be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus Phil 2:5 Be Salt.<br><strong><em>Slurred Speech</em></strong>: when what they say doesn’t make sense: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach <strong>any</strong> <strong>other</strong> <strong>gospel </strong>unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:8 Be salt<br><strong><em>Nausea, Seizers, Coma</em></strong>: Is any <strong>sick</strong> among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: James 5:14 Be Salt<br><strong><em>DEATH</em></strong> if left untreated! The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 BE SALT!!!!!! It’s essential for life!<br> <br><strong>PURIFIES:</strong> Salt kills germs, and acts as an antiseptic. That’s why some people gargle with salt. Put salt in to a wound and it stings at first, but it helps it to heal. When we are salt, we are to kill sin, we are to help heal wounds. Yes, the truth hurts sometimes, but the ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.<br> <br><strong>MELTS COLDNESS:</strong> What’s the number one thing we use to melt ice? Salt we throw it on the ground for safe passage. One way to describe a mean and evil person with who seems to have no conscience is to call him cold hearted. If we are salt, then our lives and our testimony should go a long way into melting the coldness of men’s hard heart.<br> <br>There are many more uses for salt, but I think I’ve shown you just how <strong>VALUABLE</strong> and <strong>USEFUL</strong> salt is and can be. Looking back at our text, Jesus asks a rhetorical question. A rhetorical question is one to make you think. He says “but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?” In other words, But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? But someone will say “Salt doesn’t lose its flavor”. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>I Beg to differ</strong></span>. Salt loses its flavor by being contaminated and/or diluted. <strong>How many of us have been contaminated or diluted by the world? </strong>The opposite is supposed to be true. We are supposed to affect the world, not the other way around! As a Christian, we must study God’s word for ourselves. We must continually be in prayer. If we are being diluted, we are not being catalyst. A catalyst changes the things around it, and is not consumed in the process. <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">There are way too many watered down Christians in the church today, and a watered down Christian is more hindrance to the church than a help. </span></strong>We see them all the time, those who only come to be seen and heard of men. They have their reward! There are those who have no relationship w/ Christ, but they know all the lingo, they know all the songs, they know when to shout, how to shout, when to say hallelujah. Then they go home and beat their wives or go sleep with their the girl next door. They go drink and smoke weed until they go numb and watch some porn, having no intentions to change whatsoever. <strong>They use to be dedicated, but then they lost their flavor.</strong> Now, we can’t give flavor back to flavorless slat, but God can. We just have to keep praying for our watered down brothers and sisters. My question is, are you salty?</span><br><br> Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31996492014-09-23T11:17:41-05:002014-09-23T11:30:35-05:00Are You Ready To Make A Comeback?<strong>Hey Family.. I was looking over some of my past nuggets and this one jumped out at me.. It excited me because since writing this one, God has continually been moving in our lives... The come Back Continues... I hope that this WORD... written almost two years ago, that it ministers and inspires someone reading it. I look at how God has moved in my life over the last two years and I got so excited today! Something about the WORD of God.. It doesn't have a shelf life.. Here you go:</strong><br><br><br><span class="font_large"><strong>I was thinking of my son today.. So proud of him.( I will say that today and want to knock him out tonight..LOL) He is back in school, looking to finish his degree in Engineering. Over the years he has squandered some opportunities, allowed his focus to go in the wrong direction and temporarily taken breaks from doing the things that he was supposed to be doing as a student, an athlete, and a Christian man. His actions lately have shown me that he is ready and willing to make a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">COMEBACK</span>…. I AM SO EXCITED AND PROUD. This past weekend he sat in a youth retreat that we ministered at. He was engaged and focused. He still is a clown but I know he was locked in. He made a resolution between him and God at that retreat. As he reads this nugget today, I want him to know that I am SO PROUD of him. I looked at my daughter’s basketball team at the high school. It has been a while since they had their glory days… They too seem to be on the COMEBACK trail. Something special about this team is the number of girls who profess Christ… They pray together, encourage one another in Christ. My daughter and few of them meet before school for a daily devotional. The Coach had scripture placed on one of their T-shirts (I imagine some folks didn’t like that..) The girls team hasn’t beaten a conference foe in 2 years or more. So far, this year they have beaten 2 out of 3. Folks are excited because they can sense a COMEBACK! Now my daughter, Alicia. She is a new freshman and on the Varsity basketball team. New coach… New system.. A new level of thinking and new challenges. She has been forced to look at her weaknesses and work on them. She struggled mentally with all of the above.. She now has embraced it all and now we can see a COMEBACK taking place. She is beginning to play the ball that she is capable of playing. We are excited because It is only the beginning. She knows that they have seen nothing yet. We talked about it and she has a new excitement about it all, where once she was struggling. I and my family had stepped away from quite a few ministry opportunities because of one excuse or another. Lately as we have been going out in ministry, it has been so rewarding. God has been smiling upon us and the feeling of this COMEBACK has been amazing. We have decided to go through every door that God has presented us and do as HE says.. To those who have missed us.. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">We’re BAAAACK! </span> I want to reach out to someone who may feel like they let a great opportunity slip away. Maybe been struggling with change to the point that they stopped producing the goods that they know they are capable of producing. Maybe you feel like you missed out on a great ministry opportunity or job opportunity. Maybe you feel as if you blew a chance at a great relationship. You may have said that you wanted to be a better person in Christ because in all honesty, you had too many self inflicted flaws. Nasty attitude.. Judgmental.. Hateful…ect. Now is your time for a COMEBACK…. It will take dedication and resolve.. Don’t try to avoid your weaknesses.. Work on them… Look for God given opportunities and pursue them all out. I want to share this scripture with my family as well as whoever is in need of this WORD today. The Lord says to us in Revelation 3:8 the words that HE spoke to the church at Philadelphia. "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” The believers in Philadelphia ran into so many obstacles and had many weaknesses but they never walked away from opportunities that God presented them and they never stopped working to strengthen their weaknesses.. They didn’t want to miss a blessing or bypass any of God’s open doors. They knew that they were special and didn’t take that lightly. They knew that serving God was a gift and because of that God blessed them greatly.( Read Rev. 3:12). For someone reading this, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">it is time for your COMEBACK! </span> Begin to carefully look for the open doors that God is trying to show you. Without question, go through. Going through may require you to drop your attitudes and egos. To say, I apologize or to show love to someone who you consider hard or impossible to even like. You may have to work harder than you have ever worked in your life. Do things in a manner that you never have done before. Let go of some friends who are no good for you at the time. Tell a stranger that Jesus loves them and is a Savior… Saying all of this…. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Are you really ready to make your COMEBACK?</span></strong></span><br><br> Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31977382014-09-22T10:01:19-05:002014-09-22T14:59:27-05:00A change in plans<span class="font_large"><strong>Hey Fam,<br><br>I was reading my Word this morning and went back to times when I called myself working my “Master Plan”.. Yeah Me, Eric B and Rakim….LOL…I can look back over my life and see so many times that I’ve made plans to do something and they never worked out or something would happen so that I could not follow through with them.. That was nothing but God Looking out for me.. I remember the get rich quick plans… How can I flip this dollar and ease my financial woes… Never did I go to God on them and they always tended to blow up in my face or failed for some reason. They always had some selfish thing in them that either caused for me to do wrong or someone wrong. God was nowhere in the equation. I’ve also seen and have heard of folks who have made plans in order to hinder my ministry and the things that God has given me to do. When I stayed out of the way, God had a way of thwarting them and making the adversary look really bad in the midst of it all. This is for the one reading this who has been working on their life’s “Master Plan”. If God hasn’t orchestrated it, you are in for a big disappointment. Your degrees don’t validate you and make you all that smart. Not in the sight of God. Your thoughts are simply futile. Listen, He has a Plan in store just for you. It most likely is not even remotely close to what you have perceived. Know that HIS way is best and that there is no way that you can do it better than HE can.. Proverbs 21:31 says, There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. So many want to claim to be so wise but if God hasn’t granted this wisdom, there is no wisdom there. Read 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 (yeah, I’m calling for you to use your Bibles today).. So the next time your plans go bad, don’t let it bother you all that much. Go to the Master planner. Thank HIM… Why? So glad you asked… He opposed your plans in order to protect you from the outcome of them…</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31944652014-09-19T09:37:06-05:002014-09-19T09:39:37-05:00The Cycle<span class="font_large"><strong>Hey Family. I think of my walk with Christ and I must go back to the many good folks who poured generously into me. There was my parents, grandparents, great grandparents.. Then there was a group who loved me for no reason at all. Elder Doss, Elder Joiner, Pastor White, Rev. Carpenter, Pastor Robinson, and the list goes on. I was told by a good friend in ministry that we are to be distribution centers. I then looked at David’s words when he said that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>"My cup runneth over".. </em></span>Yes, my over flow is to be shared with those who need filling. People wonder why I am the way that I am when it comes to sharing Christ and trying to encourage. Why I am on such a mission to create disciples for Christ (notice, I didn’t say Christians.. Disciples are devoted followers)? <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">It is my responsibility!</span> We are all responsible for creating a cycle of discipleship. It’s like the old commercial. Two friends told me, and I told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on, and so on… I look back at my spiritual tree and marvel at the many who have selflessly poured into me. I look to see who I have poured into. Who are they pouring into.. This is how we are to change this wicked world. The process is intentional, relational, wise and critical. To whom much is given, much is expected. Jesus did it with the apostles.. The commission says to Go and make disciples… <em>Entrust this with reliable men/women who will continue the cycle.<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> If your block is still jacked up, you have more work to do. </span></em>We can’t impact the world if we are afraid to impact the block, the school, the city, the state, our family and friends. Find a good soldier today. They don’ t have to be perfect in your eyes. Just share Christ and entrust them to share Christ. Are you continuing the cycle?<br><br>Chew on this: 2 Timothy 2:2<br><br>2 <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.</em></span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31926452014-09-18T08:25:17-05:002014-09-18T10:44:30-05:00I GO TO THE ROCK!<span class="font_large"><strong>I know that most of you know that we are planting a new church and the name is Rock of Refuge.<br><br>I have been stuck in Psalm 73. I have learned that I have to continually run to the ROCK of my salvation.. Every time I think that I have this thing down, I find myself needing to find refuge and shelter in “The Rock”.. Ok, Here is my nugget for you. So many of us believe that God is God(at least we say that HE is). That HE can do all things.. That HE is all wise, all powerful and everywhere(omnipresent). Yet, so many of us are not seated on the solid foundation when trouble arises in our lives. When it comes to our health, our money, our relationships and YES, our kids…. We want to feel that we are in total control of it all and when we see that we aren’t, trusting God is one of the last things that we choose to do. Whether you want to admit it or not, your college degrees, your muscle bound bodies, your sharp tongue, or your good looks will not hide the fact that you are resting upon sinking sand, without real trust in God. You may find that when problems arise, you feel like you are so far from God. That is because your lack of trust has created such a distance that you either cannot hear HIM or you do not want to. Yes, you have trust issues. You give a great shout on Sundays that all is lining up for you but you act out of character or go to the woe is me corner when true tests arise. God is a convenience or cute term for you at times. Why not try truly trusting HIM.. This is a part of the basics of any strong relationship.. TRUST.. Do you really think that you are more dependable? Do you think that your man or woman is more dependable.. Your actions speak louder than your words… Some of us have Skyscraper dreams and talents but they can’t survive being built on nothing but sand…. You can trust God with your health, your relationships, your money, your talents, your heart and YES your family.. Trust HIM… Learn what His will is for your life. Stop creating so much distance between you and HIM with your trust issues…. Where do I go?<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> I GO TO THE ROCK</span>… Anyone remember that old school song with the timeless message?<br><br>Matthew 7: 24-29</strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.<br>25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house ; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.<br>26 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.<br>27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house ; and it fell -and great was its fall."<br>28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching ;<br>29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes</strong></span>.</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31913742014-09-17T13:20:20-05:002014-09-17T13:51:27-05:00Have you been knocked unconscious yet?<span class="font_large"><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Romans 1:1 says that we are separated unto the Gospel.</span></em><br><br><br>How many of your workers for Christ are at a point where you say “I am tired”? Any of you feel kind of down because your time to “shine” hasn’t fully arrived? You feel or know that you belong on a much bigger stage or shall I say plain than you are and it is eatin you up? So many break down because of their desire to be “it”, "Big Time" "The Center of attention" for their own pleasure and not truly God’s pleasure. They desire truthfully for God to make them more desirable in their own eyes. If this is you, then you should question if the Gospel of God has truly touched you. Is it more important to for you to be pleasing in your own sight or in the sight of God? How can we expect God to deliver us when we are so focused on us? This walk takes total surrender and abandonment of how we view ourselves. I have been so reckless with my life that I came to see that I have to have the same recklessness when it comes to my surrendering to Christ. We must become more unconscious of ourselves to be more conscious of HIM(Someone missed that..).. That is our calling.. Plain and simple. Hopefully this ministers…. You aint sanctified if you haven't been separated and knocked uncounscious to YOU.</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31910562014-09-17T09:50:23-05:002014-09-17T10:15:09-05:00A lesson on mountains and valleys<strong><span class="font_large">I was in Mark 9 and after being in the valley for 6 days, Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up on a mountain. Up there they got to witness the transfiguration. The disciples enjoyed the experience but soon after was led back down the mountain and back to the business of ministering to the people. I am sure that they would have loved to stay on the mountain but there were folks in need of healing awaiting them as soon as they descended. I want to minister today to the one who considers themselves in life’s valleys right now. You are so much missing the mountain top experience and you are in a hurry to get there. I wanna share this with you and hopefully you can ingest and digest it. When we are on top of the mountain, we feel as if we see things from God’s standpoint. There is very little learning taking place there. We can’t stay there because that is not where we spiritually grow. It is when we are going down the mountain and when we are forced to dwell in the valleys. That is where you minister to others and your true character is built. It is easy to Shout “Glory, Glory” on the mountain top and proclaim “God is Good”. Let’s see you do it in the dark places and dark hours of your life. Folks don’t need to hear from you on the mountain top. We get inspiration on the mountain tops but prove our worth in the valleys. For those who are on the mountain top.. Enjoy it, but know that God is just giving you time to exhale and enjoy the view. Eventually you must go back to the devil possessed valley and help someone get to the top so that they can breathe and also see God’s awesomeness…. Each time you rise you coming up stronger… Wiser… Better and more fit for the next descent. Keep it Moving…</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31891192014-09-16T08:23:05-05:002014-09-16T14:23:33-05:00Pushed into the right direction<span class="font_large">I want to touch on the subject of obedience. There have been so many times in my life in where God wanted me to go in a certain direction but because that direction wasn't appealing or was against my will, I refused to go. I didn't consider that fact of the glory that God would have been getting if I had only just done what HE said to do. All I could see was my discomfort or the unworthiness of the folks that HE was directing me to. Then God found a way to push me in the direction that HE wanted me to go. If I had only listened the first time, I would have avoided so much pain and darkness. I revisited Jonah today, and I saw myself in his situation time and time again. So many times it took me to be moved to a dark place or a painful place in order for me to look towards heaven and say, <em>"Lord, I want what you have for me. I get it.. Your will is so much better than my will. PLEASE, have mercy.."</em> Then I ended up going where HE want me to go and though the road may have been uncomfortable, evidence of God being there was definitely visible. It's funny, when I answered the call, a part of the covenant that I made was I would go wherever HE sent me.. I have tried to back out of that covenant time and time again because of how I saw things.. Then once I became obedient and went wherever HE sent me, I saw that HE not only showed up for me, but HE beat me to the location and prepared the place for me to work with the power of the Holy Spirit.. IF you are in the belly of the whale right now because of disobedience, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>don't die</strong></span>.. God has a way of using that place to get your attention and your obedience.. Just submit right now and go and do the wonderful things that HE had planned for you to do and just enjoy watching HIM do GREAT things through you.<br><br>Here is how Jonah handled it.. Once he came to his senses, he said: For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me...<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>Then I said, I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.</em></span> Jonah 2:3-4 (NKJV)<br><br>Father God, I just want to say Thank you for all of the times you just pushed me into the right direction. Thank you for the folks that you used to push me and those who thought that they were hurting me but their efforts pushed me into a place where I succeeded and you were glorified. I pray that whoever is reading this, that they move as you direct them. I also pray that for their sakes, if they resist or rebel, that you push them towards their real joy, their real peace and successes that you have planned in their lives. Push them in the direction of their ministries. Allow them to see your thumbprint on their lives so that they won’t be so rebellious in the future when it comes to you and your will in their lives… <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>BE GLORIFIED</strong></span>.. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>HAVE YOUR WAY</strong></span>…</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31875732014-09-15T13:09:56-05:002014-09-16T00:49:17-05:00Wait for as Long as it takes<span class="font_large">I have a feeling that someone reading this will need this nugget for nourishment. I love the Psalms. I can really relate to David in so many ways. Today's nugget is for the one who has been asking God the question... <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>HOW LONG?.. </strong></span>Maybe you are tired of struggling financially, in your marriage, Waiting on your kids to get it together. Maybe you are a part of a ministry that seems to be going nowhere but you know that you have been sent there for a reason that is significant. Done all the schooling and now needing a job. Been hurt so many times and wonder when you will experience real love. Here is what I have for you... grasp it... <strong>God loves you so much and the plans that HE has for you are enormous.</strong> Keep trusting and obeying Him and HIS WORD. HIS timing is always perfect. If HE were to allow you to move at your pace, you would most likely pollute the fruit that HE is preparing through you... Wait... Job did.. Noah did as he was told until God decided it was time. Read the testimony of one who decided to wait as long as it took....<br><br><strong>Psalm 40</strong><br><br>1. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry</em></span>.<br>2. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.</em></span><br>3. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.</em></span><br><br><strong>Somebody reading is about to have the full lyrics to their victory song. The final verse to their song of deliverance.. The hook to their love song… Just continue to wait… As long as it takes for God to perfect it... <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WAIT</span>. While you’re waiting, put a smile on your face, warm up the vocals, and GIVE HIM MUCH THAT DESERVED PRAISE!</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31839222014-09-12T07:57:34-05:002014-09-12T08:00:02-05:00Let Us Pray!<span class="font_large">Hey Family. I want to talk about being more effective in prayer. When seeking prayer partners, do you intentionally seek out true believers? You should. There is power in agreement. Remember 1 sends 1000 to flight, 2- 10,000. It is also very important to be in agreement in your spirit. You cannot pray effectively if you are distracted and focusing on the next words that are to come out of your mouth. Ever heard someone fumble through a prayer? Hard to stay with them. Isn’t it? I have sat through some prayers where a person was making a lot of noise but saying absolutely nothing. I sat through a 30 minute prayer one time and all the guy did was try to remember and call out all the names of God and HIS attributes and when he got stuck, he’d pause and say… “We need you Lord!” No power was in it at all. Listen, <strong>when the saints are on one accord and in agreement, God shows up and HIS power displayed is mind blowing.</strong> Through prayer I have seen, the HIV virus disappear in folks, cancer erased, folks wake up from comas, relationships restored…<strong>God did it! He heard the fervent prayers of the righteous.</strong> The next thing I want to cover is you can’t pray effectively with a grudge. You can’t be beefing with your brother or sister and go through the motions, faking that you love them. Someone has to kill their pride. Why not you? Someone needs to sincerely apologize. The humble person takes responsibility and is a peacemaker. Mathew 5 tells us that there is a blessing in being the peacemaker.. You will see God. Stop letting small stuff kill relationships.. Small foxes… Bad attitudes and bitterness will keep your prayers from being effective. Do yourselves a favor and as you drop to your knees, drop the dispute.. A prayer that takes place after reconciliation is one with power… Now after saying all of that.. If you’ve taken it all in…. <strong>LET US PRAY! </strong><br><br>Timothy 2:8 says <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>“I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger, disputing and doubt”</strong></em></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31821112014-09-11T08:28:18-05:002017-01-26T14:35:51-06:00"NO PRESSURE!"<span class="font_large"><strong>I have a very good friend and brother named Reggie Inabinett. I am going to steal his copyright on a phrase that he used to always say to me. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“No Pressure!”.. </span>Reggie and I traveled the world together, worked out together, broke bread together, shared stories and counsel. He is one of the Realest brothers that I know. That is why I consider him family. Today when I was reading a scripture, as it ministered to me, I kept hearing Reg, saying “No Pressure”. See that Reggie, you are ministering today… I want to share a word to the believer who is feeling like the pressures of life is getting too heavy. Your situation seems to be getting the best of you. Living godly is getting harder because “Stuff” is piling up. If you are truly in Christ, you must know that whatever it is… This too shall pass. You can take it… As a matter of fact it won’t break you to the point of defeat.. Why? So glad you asked me today… John 16:33 lets us know that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>Jesus has overcome the world and its tribulations.</em></span> The battle has already been won. Stop worrying.. Step stressing.. As you have taken your concerns to the Master, I can hear HIM saying in the voice of Reggie Inabinett… <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“NO Pressure!”</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31803282014-09-10T08:40:03-05:002014-09-10T22:56:58-05:00GOD DID IT!<strong><span class="font_large">How many of us have looked back over our lives and broken out in a sweat when we see a situation or time period that we didn’t see a way out of? I was sharing with a friend of the times that God reminded me that I needed HIM.. I was being faced with situations that were too hard for me alone.. I was faced with tests that I could not pass alone.. BUT GOD! <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">He stepped in every time</span>.. HE makes this weak vessel strong! HE carried the load for me when needed. His Spirit spoke guidance to me… I often look back and say “ Only God did it!” That is how I made it through.. As I read David's words this morning, my eyes welled with tears, as I looked took a glance back.. Didn’t have to go waay back either.. Can you relate to these words? If So, how bout giving God a BIG... THANK YOU LORD?<br><br>Psalm 73:26 <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.</em></span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31784102014-09-09T08:29:51-05:002014-09-22T11:57:57-05:00BE HEALED!<strong><span class="font_large">I am led to give an encouraging word to someone dealing with sickness. Regardless of what it looks like, God will be your healer. A dear friend of mine left this earth a few days ago after a long battle with cancer <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(Rest well Tonya)</span>. A lady who I consider one of my moms, also recently passed away due to a long illness <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(Rest peacefully Lois)</span>. My Step mother left this earth after dealing with her body just wearing out <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(Sweet Dreams, Ma Ella). </span>Somebody reading this is so sick and tired of being sick. If you are one of God’s covenant people, healing is promised to you. God promises a body in eternity that cancer can’t invade, sickness can’t dwell there. A heart that will never get tired or quit. Picture this.. When Adam sinned death traveled from the spirit, to the soul, to the body. Now, one can be found spiritually dead, dead on the inside, and face physical death. When we are saved a similar process takes place. God now heals us in natural and supernatural ways. I once was sin sick and dying(spiritual, in my soul, and physically) and by Christ Jesus, now I am saved. I have also been healed by the laying on of hands, as well as by the use of modern medicine. I have been healed through the Word of God as well. See, I need the believer to understand this.. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">YOUR HEALING WILL TAKE PLACE</span>.. The question sometimes is where will the healing take place? In earth or in Heaven? Rest assured though, that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">HEALING WILL TAKE PLACE</span>. In Exodus 15:26 God says, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>“ I, the LORD am your healer”. </em></span>I decree that I am healed and I let it be so. My message to you…. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BE HEALED</span>, as <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">GOD IS YOUR HEALER!</span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31774632014-09-08T16:53:32-05:002014-09-08T17:06:19-05:00STAY TRUE<span class="font_large"><strong>Today I kinda was led to bounce around in my WORD and with all that is going on in and around my life, I heard a word that just said to “remain true.” Regardless of how you are looked upon, remain true. Don’t try to be a daredevil or play the role of a super saint… Remain true. Don’t allow tradition to bind you or create a barrier between you and the spirit of GOD… Just remain true. I looked at Abraham and I looked at Peter. Peter wanted to come off as a super saint. Saying things that he thought that would sound good to Jesus, before his brothers. He said to Jesus that he’d do anything, even go to death with him, but when the heat was turned up, he punked out. He didn’t stay true. You shouldn’t have to broadcast your work, the evidence of it will speak for you. Abraham didn’t make any crazy declarations about being a super saint but when God told him to sacrifice his son, he didn’t talk about it, he was prepared to act on faith. I’m sure he was hurting on the inside but he was willing to obey. If you remain true to God he will guide you through the tough times and choices that are to come. Don’t talk about it… Just be about it. God will sometimes have you step outside of your boxes, do things that break tradition, put you on your heels and all you have to do is remain true. When you come through the place that HE instructs you, there will be a better knowledge of just who GOD is and how awesome HE is.. I am a living witness. I am in a place in my life where I feel like God has me out there. Doing work outside of my area of comfort. I would like to be in another place because I feel like it would take some of life’s heat off of me but I’ve learned in this walk to listen, go as HE says and do as HE says. It still hurts to be misunderstood by my brothers and sisters but at the end of the day my greatest concern is if God is pleased with me. He hasn’t left me and HE has placed HIS hand on all that I have attempted for HIM. What more can I ask for? I am so tired of seeing <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“For Show Saints”</span>.. The ones who seem to be more interested in being glorified by man and seen every time they do anything that they call ministry.. You’ve taken a God given anointing and made it about you. SHAME ON YOU!! I read a recent message by Lamar Campbell ( I like that Brother) and it was so on point. Calling out folks who operate under the wrong motives. Well, I want to be and help bring up a breed of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“For Sure Saints”</span> Not in it for fame or fortune, but the glory of God. I may never be BIG Time as some would like to think they are. That’s cool. I just want God to be pleased. You don’t have to see my every deed. God will. You may not like me but God loves me… To the one reading this, just trust GOD and don’t worry how it looks to others..Your character will speak for you…. Don’t trip on how others view you. It’s what God sees, that matters. That is a lesson that I had to learn. How does God see your character? Not man… </strong><br><br><strong>Psalm 18:25-26 25</strong> <strong><em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.</span></em></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31677452014-09-02T12:21:24-05:002014-09-02T12:23:22-05:00To See HIS Face!<span class="font_large">I was thinking of my loved ones who are gone on. Thinking and hoping to see them again in paradise. A place where no suffering takes place. A place where one doesn't grow old. It made me think even deeper...Today, I was thinking of just the honor of seeing God’s face one day. I sat at my desk and literally teared up at the thought. I am told and was taught that not being able to truly see HIS face on earth is a curse and a blessing. We are not able to see Him in our present sinful state. I am told that if we were to get a glimpse we would perish instantly. Not being able to see HIM is also presently evidence of HIS protecting grace.. But one day… <strong>Oh one day!</strong> The Pure in heart shall see HIM. Those that make it into heaven shall behold HIS beauty and all of HIS splendor. <strong>I MUST</strong> …<strong> I TRULY DESIRE</strong>… <strong>TO SEE GOD</strong>.. Rest in HIS presence forever more. Until then, I see his fingerprint on so many things in this world. It keeps me encouraged and hopeful.. But <strong>ONE DAY</strong>… <strong>I SHALL BEHOLD HIM</strong>….. Does that excite anyone else today, other than me?<br><br>Matt 5 says:<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong> Blessed are the pure in heart for they SHALL see GOD</strong></em></span>.. <strong>LORD Create in me a clean heart</strong>..<br><br>1 John 3:1-3: <em><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."</span></strong></em></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31625962014-08-29T10:28:58-05:002014-08-29T10:29:51-05:00Remove The Veil<strong><span class="font_large">In my studies I was drawn to The veil that ripped in half when Christ gave up the ghost. I was drawn then to the veil that Moses used to keep the people from seeing what was passing away. Funny thing about a veil. It really doesn’t keep you from physically getting to something. The veil in the temple was said to be three feet thick. Not something physically impossible to move. But what a veil does is not allow you to have a clear picture of things. When Christ did what HE did the veil was rent in order to let us know that there was no longer a need for separation from God. Yet, so many of us still haven’t made it to HIM. Why? Because we have allowed either a veil to exist in either our hearts or our minds and in some cases both. Some of us have veils in our lives because we refuse to surrender certain things in our lives over to God. Because our vision is clouded by the veil, we think we are living holy because we don’t have a clear picture of what holiness is. Your veil may not be 3 feet thick or 3 inches thick but if a veil exists it still is thick enough to not give a clear picture. We have a problem when we think we are doing it well and when we think we have a clear picture of things and then a situation arises and God shows us a clear picture of ourselves and the view of it is so clear that it is hard to look at. That is when we see God unveil parts of us. Breakthroughs come and strongholds are broken when the veil is removed during the times of tests and trials. So, be honest with yourself…. Is there a veil that needs to be removed in your life? In your heart or in your mind today? Don’t be so quick to say no….. Cause God will reveal it. Among all of the scriptures that I read today, here is one that I want to share:<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.</em></span> 2 Corinthians 3:18</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31424102014-08-18T12:15:49-05:002020-11-09T23:18:17-06:00Only God Can Judge me!<strong><span class="font_large">Was just thinking… So many of us when we know that we are jacked up, like to say to those looking on, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“Only God Can Judge Me!”</span> Cute statement….We tat it on our bodies… Wear it on our t-shirts.. I agree with you 1000%. Only God can judge us legitimately... Now that is out there on the table, let me ask this. When HE does, what will the verdict be? Are we still hiding behind that statement? <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">#timewilltell </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">#enoughofthecutelines</span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31347962014-08-13T11:07:05-05:002014-08-14T09:14:03-05:00A Meaningful Life Worth Living<span class="font_large"><strong>I really hate piggy backing on the latest news when it comes to sharing a message with my folks. We have enough preachers and philosophers doing that every day. In the news lately we are seeing so much death. Suicide… So many debates about that ( I see it all over Facebook since the Robin Williams news)… Murder… Need I say more?... Civil unrest between the authorities and the people…. You see where I am with this… Well, I just want to talk about life in general. Guess what? <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">We all are going to die one day</span>. My question is how is the quality of your life at the moment? Some would say “GREAT!” They would say that they have a fine job, family, , I'm an Elder in the church or the Grand Puba of the Water Buffalo Lodge, got a nice Benz, material stuff ect. Some would talk about their fame or popularity. I have seen so many that say that, one day and then be miserable the next. Some have taken their lives due to “depression”. Something was missing. The weight of this world was too heavy. Some say that their lives suck because of the lack of money, love, notoriety ect… Can I keep this about scripture? Thank you. David said this in Psalm 16:11</strong>:<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever. </strong></em></span><br><br><strong>In other words, and please get this people: <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Life’s true meaning comes only in your relationship with God</span>. We were created in order to find true meaning in HIM. Your degree(s), the drugs, the booze, the achieved recognition and all that stuff that you throw yourselves into don’t really give true meaning to your lives. All of that is temporary fixes that won’t last or give true meaning to your lives. To be honest when we place those things in front of or above God, HE will oppose them. Your feelings of emptiness, depression and unrest are just signals that you need to shift your focus into HIS direction. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">YOU DON’T HEAR ME</span>… Mark this word here though..<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">You will never find REAL peace, fulfillment and a sense of being whole until you find it in God.</span> I’m a living witness that when you look at building your life around HIM, HE will meet every need. Saying this, I’ll ask the question. How much meaning does your life really have?</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31329712014-08-12T13:14:45-05:002014-08-12T17:56:36-05:00A Blessing In The Mourning<strong><span class="font_large">I revisited the Beatitudes and looked at the one about mourning…. It reads simple. It says that “<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted</span>.” Matt 5:4. I was led to look into it for a deeper thought. I’d like to share this with someone. How does this sound? There is a blessing for those whose hearts are hurting, for those who are suffering in this world and for those who are also truly sorry for their sins and unworthiness before God. They will find comfort and joy in God. Looking at it this way, I see that we should be in a state of mourning for a few things. If we do truly hurt for these things, there will come a blessing through it. We should hurt for weak churches and church leaders… We should hurt for the ones who quit the struggle to stay in the fight to live right. For those who are so soon to forget that holiness is a requirement and hide behind the “all have sinned” scripture, instead of being truly repentant. We should be mourning for those who have tried church and when they got there, they were made to feel unwelcomed. For Christians who hide their light to fit into the world’s scheme. We are to be mourning because folks aren’t praying enough and preaching is so weak nowadays. Mourn because Kats are caught up in what title they can acquire in church over just being simple servants. Mourn over the fact that we have replaced Spirit filled worship with hocus pocus antics. Yes we should be hurting.. We should be concerned .. Mourn for these things.. There is a promise that in our mourning, God will bring comfort. I am truly praying that this nourishes someone this morning. Bless you!</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31307162014-08-11T10:28:12-05:002014-08-12T12:08:16-05:00Thirsty?<strong><span class="font_large">I'm associated with a lot of folks. Some rich.. Some poor. Some well known and some almost unknown. I know a lot of folks who live by the “almighty dollar” or just are all about being noticed. They will do anything for a buck or they believe that as long as they have money they can solve all of life’s problems. Some will even kill for it (physically or verbally kill you) if they find benefit in it. I have known some financially wealthy people and yet they still thirst. Something is still missing in their lives. How many millionaires have you heard of that become drug addicts or commit suicide? Searching in a bottle, sex, or some prestigious affiliations.. All to attempt to quench this “thirst” that they have, that never really goes away. Yet you find some folks who may not have a lot of financial gain, if any and they have a look of peace about them. They don’t seem to relish on the downfall of others or seem to be trying to step on others in order to get theirs. When I asked them what kept them so satisfied. Even when life tends to throw devastating blows at them and I came to find out that it was them knowing and having Christ in their lives. Now, I don't find anything wrong with gaining financially. I want my family to have as well. I just won't sell my soul for it. God kept me when I had none and protected me when I had more than what I knew what to do with, so I know that money won't make me. During those times, I still had this CRAZY THIRST! The time when I had none or little drove me to the point to where I just had to try Jesus for myself. I didn't just not have money, I didn't have peace, joy or knew REAL love.. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I WAS THIRSTY!</span> Finally, My thirst was quenched and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">OH WHAT A FEELING!</span> We have so many thirsty folks out there and all we have to do is introduce them to the source that will quench their <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">TRUE</span> thirst. Not all will drink. Some are so addicted to the toxic lifestyles that they lead that they'll die thirsty. But don’t ever stop offering them the opportunity for them to drink of the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">LIVING WATER</span>… Here is the scripture that grabbed me today. It was so fitting because I have been seemingly dealing with a lot of addicted or thirsty people. Those who are so caught up in themselves, money and vanity. Eventually, if they don’t drink of the Living water, they will die. Let’s just be always willing to offer them a drink of the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">REAL THING</span>… You can't force feed them but you should always offer.<br><br><br>Here is today’s scripture to my nugget: John 4:13-14<br><br>Jesus answered and said to her, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>"Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."</em></span><br><br><em>Anyone thirsty?</em></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31269612014-08-08T10:13:09-05:002014-08-08T10:15:09-05:00EARTHQUAKE!!!!<strong><span class="font_large">Ooooh! I have a good one for you today. This is for the one who feels like their whole world is being turned upside down. There has been a major shake- up in your life and you are struggling to find your balance. You are struggling to see light. Hey.. I have been there several times and a scripture today made me look back and see that in the end I came out better and God got the glory… I’ve learned over a long period to instead of going into a woe is me corner, to say (and so many times say it aloud to convince myself deep within) that something good is going to come out of all of this because I am gonna stand on Romans 8:28. The scripture I want to share with you comes from Psalm 11:3. It says:<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”</span><br><br>I look at it in this way. When things go haywire in a believers life, first what are they going to do but mostly, what is God (The ultimate Righteous One), up to? What is HE about to do? The moment may not feel good or even look good but it will do something good in order for Him to receive glory from my life. Let me say this to the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">REAL</span> believer.. God is bringing you out and when HE does, don’t see things as they just happened. Some person came along and looked out or some coincidence was experienced.<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> Don’t you dare allow God to be anonymous</span> when it all comes to a head. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Give HIM THE Glory</span>.. Right now though, I return to the question, now that the foundations of your world are being shaken, What can the righteous do? One time for your mind….</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31227422014-08-07T09:33:06-05:002014-08-07T09:35:18-05:00Relief From Grief<span class="font_large">Today I want to speak on the topic of relief from grief. The process is supposed to work like this: So many of my folks are grieving or dealing with grief. So many have experienced the passing of a loved one lately. My best friend from High School just buried his mother. A few of my young folks have seen loved ones leave at early ages , and folks on the job are constantly going to funerals and home going services. You release your pain and losses to God. You come to terms with the past and are supposed to eventually be able to find freedom in the reality of the present. When we bring God in the grieving process we find hope for the future. When we refuse to, we become bitter, hardened and broken, emotionally and spiritually. When my mother passed away, it took me years to go to God and truly cry out for HIM to help me. I would shut down on the anniversary or her passing. 23 December, my family would tip toe around me all day.. Ask every now and then, “Are you alright?” Then I said one day, enough is enough. Over a decade later, I took it to God.. Then on one December 23rd, I sat in my living room and looked at my kids play with one another. I looked at Mommy’s picture on the wall. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>The one that stares right at me</em></span>.. I noticed that God had left little pieces of her all around me in my kids. I smiled and a sense of gratitude hit me. I was like God you are soooo awesome. I still miss her. I still cry at her gravesite but I’m alright now. I learned to follow Jeremiahs example of crying out to God. Telling HIM all about my struggles and pains and I have come to see that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>GOD hears me</strong></span>. I also learned by reading lamentations that it is alright to be real with God. God honored my tears in the end, just like HE did Jeremiahs. Let the first steps of your grieving process begin with you just letting God know all about it. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Keep it real. HE can handle it</strong></span>… It is time for someone reading this to finally feel a present day healing coming on and see hope in their future… Let these words soothe you today.<br><br><br><strong>John 14:27</strong><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31224362014-08-06T11:46:22-05:002014-08-08T14:25:16-05:00Expecting God To Do It All<span class="font_large">I was able to get into a WORD and have a nugget that I found worth sharing. I often tell my youth and young adults that God doesn't lie. What HE said he'd do for us, <strong>HE WILL DO</strong>. So many times folks take that as it is totally a done deal. We can pull out the fruity drinks and just chill. Let me expand on this today. Yes, God will do all that HE says HE will but <strong>there are some things that HE won't do.</strong> This may be a lengthy nugget.. I'll try to keep it short though. As God has set so many of us up for success, we have become in danger of failing, dying, and possibly some folks killing others. How? Glad you wanna know. So many of us have forgotten that we Cannot do what God can do and God will not do what we can do. That's a major <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>NEWSFLASH!</strong></span> I was in 2 Peter 1 and when I got to verse 5, I was drawn to pause on the word <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>"ADD". </strong></span>It meant for us to develop a habit of doing certain things. Seems simple but it can be a hard thing to do. One doesn't easily develop good character overnight, if they’ve been crooked for so long. We can't save ourselves. Only God can do that but God won't give us good habits and make us live right. You may be struggling with addiction. God can heal you but have to make the choice to want help and to stay away from the thing that you are addicted to. Often we will have to cut off things and folks in order to reach our maximum potential. Not always an easy thing to do because of emotional ties. Let's move when God speaks to us and <strong>NOT</strong> make decisions based on emotion or peer pressure. He has us to act in many uncomfortable situations on faith and faith alone. Once you take the leap in faith, make it impossible to go back in the other direction. Let's learn to trust God at the first sign of conflict and danger. Let's be willing to do the unpopular thing if that is what God is instructing us to do. For those of us who have been trusted with working with souls, let's protect them at all costs. That means sometimes keeping them away from those that you know aren't good for them. In my years of ministry I have seen folks killed in churches because the wrong folks were put into positions for the wrong reasons. I've seen choir directors kill the spirit of the choir. I've seen Pastor's ordain ministers who eventually killed the congregation with their hidden agendas and folks placed over the church offices that ended up stealing all of the churches finances. All because the leader refused to hear from God. I myself have asked God to do so much for me but not be willing to give up stuff that would keep me from not only receiving my blessing but keeping my blessing, after God gave it to me. I have polluted many situations and relationships because I didn't do my part. I thought as long as I showed up did the things that folks could see openly, that I would be ok. Yet all the time God was seeing my true character. It was only after I realized that I need to do my part, to do the things that are pleasing in HIS sight, that I could count on things bearing <strong>GREAT</strong> fruit. The funny thing is that while doing those things it put me in places where those who weren't in tune with God would question me. That's OK. I finally feel that I am one the road to doing<strong> REAL </strong>ministry. <strong><em>Just because one goes to church every Sunday, preaches, teaches, or prays in front of folks, doesn't automatically speak well of their character. </em></strong>They may be there every time the church doors swing open but be killing those in their community. They may be poisoning their kids with things of the world. I often say and have said over the years that I just don't trust everybody with the young folks that I minister to. Just like I have heard some Pastors say that they don't just anybody speak in the pulpit because they don't want to be responsible for folks being killed on their watch. Let's work on being trustworthy to GOD. Let's understand that HE can do anything but there are some things that HE just won't do for us.. Here is a part of verse 5 from 2 Peter 1: <em><strong>Add to your faith virtue. In other words along with your faith, be about doing something... Be about it for REAL...... We may be able to fool man, but GOD knows.....</strong></em> I pray that you took the time to read this in its' entirety and that it nourished you like it did me.<br><br><strong>2 Peter 1:5</strong> <em><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge</span></strong></em></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31221112014-08-05T09:03:52-05:002014-08-05T09:08:57-05:00The Real Measuring Stick<span class="font_large">Today I wish to touch the topic of comparing ourselves with others. It is so easy to look at someone that we consider to be a heathen or jacked up. When we measure ourselves to them we often find it easy to consider ourselves to be Super Saints. We tend to puff out our chests and place ourselves at the table sharing a meal with Jesus himself. Yeah, I know I am stepping on some toes of the self righteous this morning but don't get mad at me. Blame the WORD for convictiong you today, that is if you're heart isn't too hard to receive it. Let us measure ourselves with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here’s a couple of scriptures that I’d like to share:<br><br><strong>2 Corinthians 10:12-14 says:</strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><em>12. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.<br>13. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.<br>14. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:</em></strong></span><br><br>And let’s seal it with the 17th and 18th verses.<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>17. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.<br>18. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.</strong></em></span><br><br><strong>Now, the question for us to ask ourselves…… How do we measure up?</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31218602014-08-04T08:06:35-05:002014-08-04T15:15:05-05:00Your True Value<span class="font_large">Let me help the one today who has been made to feel as if they have no real worth or value. You said that you are a believer. You have allowed him or her to talk you into believing what “they” say that you are. You’ve allowed your current economical situation or social status determine your worth. Since you are not a part of this or that clique, you are worthless… Because you are struggling now, don’t have a man/woman, no money, or fine car or home. You put all of your trust in him or her and they traded you in for another model. Let me just put this scripture on this. I dare someone struggling with their self worth to eat on this… <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>Christ became sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him</em></span>… <strong>(2 Corinthians 5:21)</strong> If you are the righteousness of God, how can you allow yourself to feel so cheap? Jesus paid it all… <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>The price that HE paid for you and me was a steep one</strong></span>.. You have tremendous worth.. Now act like it. Don’t allow yourself to be played cheap!</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31188962014-08-01T13:30:08-05:002014-08-01T14:07:43-05:00Great God Almighty!<span class="font_large"><strong>My nugget for today is for those that are feeling swamped by your problems or situations. We tend to let “things” alter our focus. So much to the point to where we become blinded to just how awesome and capable God is. We tend to not see HIM as a trouble settler, a provider, a healer, a way maker… I was driving home the other week and looked at the beautiful landscape of the country along with the awesome colors that the sky had that day. I was like <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WOW</span>… Look at God! First who woulda thought that this kid from the projects would be living in such a beautiful place. Then I was like Look at the handwork of God.. It was such a beautiful scene. We need to often stop in our tracks, look at the sky and all of God’s creations around us and marvel at just how <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">GREAT HE IS</span>!!! Hopefully it will snap us back to reality that nothing is too hard for HIM. If HE can sling the stars in the sky, surely HE can take care of little ole me…<br><br>A short prayer for us to pray today: Lord, open my eyes, that I might see all that this world is meant to be. Do not let the pressures of the day create a cloud that prevents me from seeing Your beauty.. AMEN..<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork</em></span>. Psalm 19:1</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31166692014-07-31T14:07:48-05:002014-08-07T08:48:40-05:00Your Closing Thoughts<span class="font_large"><strong>I wanna try to help someone today who is suffering maybe from nightmares, bad dreams, or evil thoughts at night. You wake up stressing over bills, no satisfaction in your marriage, or job. Maybe you wake up mad at the world or worried about your children or health. Sick and tired or tired of being sick. I read psalm 4 and I felt the need to share this one. Typically the last thoughts that we have before going to sleep are so powerful that they often determine where our subconscious goes. This is a perfect place and time for the enemy to pollute you. You then wake up facing the same problems that were there before you fell asleep and have added even more negativity to fuel the situations. Try this… Before going to sleep, consciously place your mine on Christ. Regardless of what you are facing, shift your focus on HIM. Shift from the finances, loneliness, and bad relationships, feelings of disappointment and low self esteem and just focus on HIS GREATNESS, LOVE and POWER. Allow your mind to be subconsciously rejuvenated with positivity. Have the mindset that David had when he said <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”</span> Psalm 4:8. Remember, most of your battles take place in your mind.. Get Your Mind Right!</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/31081452014-07-30T14:51:17-05:002014-08-01T21:30:42-05:00Gut Check!<span class="font_large"><strong>This is for the “Believer” who feels like the underdog. You are feeling that evil had won and you are beginning to give into living as the world does. You say that you are mad at God. You say that your faith has failed. You have believed everything but the word of God. Because HE didn’t move when you thought HE should have.. Because you have been or are being hurt, God is not worthy of your faith. Yet you trust in some smooth talking guy or a big booty and a smile… You’ve allowed his or her cash flow, or social status (regardless of how he/she got it) to be your new god… When approached by those who know the real you, you give a lame excuse. You’ve assumed the position of a slave or victim to satan and sin.. Yet, you are or were a “believer”? Hey, I dare not make satan or sin supreme over my life because I stand on the word that says <em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world</span></em>. (1 John 4:4) <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Gut Check!</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30955002014-07-24T09:07:30-05:002014-07-25T19:30:07-05:00Can't Hold Us!!!!<span class="font_large">I want to share a scripture with a believer today who feels “stuck” or like they are a captive or hostage. You may feel like you are stuck in debt, stuck in depression, stuck in a bad relationship, stuck in sickness. So many times we stay captive because we are afraid to see a way out of our situations. We like to sing that song “Break every Chain” but we still remain slaves to our old mindsets, to doing the same ole sinful deeds, and the same ole negative people that we have surrounded ourselves with. The first thing you must do is <strong>allow your mind to be free</strong>. Stop condemning yourself to your situation.. Stop allowing the toxic mindset of others to be your mindset. We are to strive to have the mindset of Christ. We are to welcome the Spirit of the Lord in our presence and thought processes. So many of you say that you have Jesus. Well,let me help you out. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN LIVE LIFE WITH A SLAVE MENTALITY IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST! </strong></span><strong>My savior is a liberator!</strong> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Yes HE IS!</strong></span> Stop making excuses of why you keep doing the same ole negative things.. Stop letting your situations master you. <strong>You want peace? You want joy? You want power? You want real Love?</strong> I am going to tell you what I told my daughter recently. Stop letting people control how you feel or act.. Stop allowing them to make you lose sleep! All you have to do is <strong>LET THE “<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">SON”-SHINE </span>IN</strong>… Yeah, you’ve just read it and still missed it.... Look, if you are a believer and have Christ in your life, it is impossible to be in bondage.. The word says that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY</strong></span>… (<strong>2 Corinthians 3:17</strong>).. So Smile and say this… <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>NO MORE CHAINS HOLDING ME</strong></span>… The girls basketball team had a theme song last year that said “Can’t Hold Us”… You need to let that settle in your spirit.. <strong>I HEAR CHAINS FALLING….</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30939452014-07-23T13:51:26-05:002014-07-23T22:16:41-05:00YOU CAN'T LOSE!!!!<span class="font_large">I sent out a Word for those who were dealing with the persecution complex and I want to add more to it if I may. This word here is for the one who has passed that point and has fallen into the defeated mode. You may have said, “ I can’t beat em’ so I may as well join em’.” You may have accepted the inferior mindset that the adversary wanted you to assume. If you are a true believer, it is time for you to wake up that sleeping Giant that resides inside of you. I have had some folks try to bury me in so many ways. I share these experiences with my children so that they can see that they aren’t the first to deal with such people and situations. The mistake would be to believe the hype of the accusers, the haters, the doubters and the attempted spiritual snipers… Because of who and whose I am, people should be very cautious about the way they deal with me and mine. When I have allowed my Lord to fight my battles, I have seen some folks suffer some terrible things for attempting to verbally murder me, kill my integrity, block my ministry, block my progress, tarnish my name, “put me in my place”, harm my family and kill my joy. I mean drastic things happened to them. All while I was allowed to keep moving on. I’ve had folks try to block my blessings only to direct me to bigger ones. I have given my children instances of the things that I have seen and heard some of them that tried suffer. <strong>You <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">cannot</span> do God’s people just any ole way… Trust that statement!!!</strong> I shared with my children that The word tells us that God leads us in triumph so we need not accept defeat or assume a defeated mentality (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">2 Corinthians 2:14</span>) Someone who truly knows Jesus as their Lord and savior needs to be smiling because <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>YOU CAN’T LOSE</strong></span>…. To the one who has been trying to get in the way….. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>BE VERY CAREFUL!!!!!!</strong></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30909262014-07-22T09:15:59-05:002014-07-23T07:05:54-05:00Kill That Noise!<strong><span class="font_large">I want to attack the “Woe is me attitude.” The one who is feeling like “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.” I tried that and it just didn’t work for me. It amazes me when I run into “believers” with that mindset, when they find themselves in the valley or going through a season of darkness or cold. When we allow people to make us want to crawl into a hole and die. Sometimes we are allowed to go through darkness, not as a punishment but in order to learn how to trust HIM and to develop an ear for HIS voice. Sometimes doors are closed in order to protect us or in order to push us to a place where we can TRULY soar. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">We are not cursed!</span> Stop acting that way or believing that mess! The WORD says that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law that we might receive His Spirit (Galatians 3:13, 14).. God’s Got a blessing with your name on it. One that is going to blow your mind if you’d only stay the course and stop whining.. Do you really think you are showing how much you trust Him by whining, quitting or acting out? You are not cursed.. That is if you are truly in Christ… Nuff said. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Kill that noise!</span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30886322014-07-21T09:22:52-05:002014-07-23T14:06:43-05:00Stand Up and Take Action<strong><span class="font_large">The situation that I want to help someone put a word on is the weak man/woman complex. You have allowed yourself to be bullied by people who appear to be stronger or better positioned than you are. I got frustrated with my nephew the other week and gave him some stern words. He is a very smart kid. Makes great grades and is an exceptional athlete but he tried to use where he was from as an excuse to say that the big colleges wouldn’t give him an honest look. He totally overlooked the fact that he has been on some very big stages, performing at the highest of levels and succeeding. He just preferred to listen and give into what “<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">THEY</span>” say. It really gets me when my kids wanna tell me what “<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">THEY</span>” say. I don’t care who “<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">THEY</span>” are… It could be the President, a teacher, a coach, a hometown hero.. What God says is all that matters. I have had several people attempt to bury me with their opinions and words. Have had folks try to use their “influence” in attempt to show me how powerful they were. I have also watched God tear so many of them down. All while lifting me to heights that I thought to be so hard to achieve. So, to the believer… If that is you. Enough of the weak minded thinking. The WORD of God tells me that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action (do my thing and do it well) because I know God (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Psalm 27:1 and Daniel 11:32</span>) My daughter Alicia has always been the under dog on so many people’s lists but over the years I have seen God continually do marvelous things through her. Whenever she tries to assume the weak role, I often remind her of the many times when HE has lifted her above the doubters, critics and backstabbers. I tell her that our walk is one of meekness and not weakness. To the one suffering from the weak man/woman syndrome…. Stand up and take action!</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30868432014-07-19T16:11:31-05:002014-07-21T10:38:08-05:00You Are More Than That<strong><span class="font_large">Time to get a Word on another mindset that so many carry. Talking about the one who is having a hard time letting go of a momentary setback. You may have seen it as a failed attempt, missed moment. Folks around you may be quick to point it out to you over and over again. I have been there so many times and the funny thing is the folks who said that they cared about me most were the ones who seemed to like to remind me of those moments. If you are finding yourself there and are beginning to fall for the lie that you are a failure, let me help you out. You say that you are in Christ and that you are a believer.. Let this word check you and encourage you. Before I share it, I’ll go here. I have made many bad moves, done some things that I wish I hadn’t done. Missed out on some things that I probably feel that I should have had. The funny thing is God has always had a way of showing me that HE can and will turn things around in my favor. I can recall several times going out to minister in song and not doing as well as I felt I should have or could have. I may have gone in not prayed up or focused on ministering. Then all of the sudden I’d hear of someone who’s life was changed in that evening. Someone who was considering suicide and they found hope in the message. Prior to me finding this out, those around me might have said something like, “you didn’t do your normal great job or you went in with the wrong attitude.” I would even be reminded of how many times my voice cracked. My intentions were always to glorify God and HE knows that I love ministering. I just couldn’t seem to get over the hump. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BUT GOD</span>… He’d take my little bit, work with it and still get some Glory out of it. Through Him I still found myself being blessed. The phone would be ringing with folks wanting me to come minister. Not just all over the US but overseas. Look, this is what I want to share to the believer. Stop looking at what appears to be failure. Here is why… The Word says that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">we are more than conquerors in ALL things through Christ. </span>(Romans 8:37) The disappointments of a believer becomes a place for HIS APPOINTMENTS… So when folks try to bury you in moment in which you don’t appear to shine, know that God will use a moment like that to exalt you for HIS glory. That’s the beauty of being HIS vessel. You are more than what man sees in you. Failure is not an option.</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30844282014-07-18T08:33:54-05:002014-07-18T08:34:38-05:00God's Got You!<strong><span class="font_large">Today’s segment of putting a Word on it came from a conversation that I had with my daughter yesterday. She was feeling as if the world was closing in on her. She felt persecuted from different sides. She even gave me some pretty good examples of some of the things she is and has experienced with different people. I had to take her out for a ride yesterday and we just chopped it up. Some of it was legitimate. Some of it was her emotions being caught up. That leads me to giving this to the one who has that persecution complex. The one feeling like everyone is gunning for them. In some cases that may be true but the beauty of being one of God’s elect is….. I am going to make it simple and again I encourage you to lean on God’s word over your circumstances or situation. My sister found this out just yesterday. Her supervisor had been trying to block her progress at work and had her working crazy hours which kept her from her children, who really need her. I kept telling y sister not to act out of character and that there is no way that people will get away with treating God’s elect just any ole way and get away with it. The supervisor was just kicked out of her position… She will no longer be in place to hurt my sister. I told my daughter that God’s got her back and for those who think that they can mess with her, go behind her back, try to push her to failure.. They <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WILL</span> deal with God…. The scripture I want the believer to get on their circumstance lets us know that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">NOBODY </span>can successfully be against us if God is for us.. (Romans 8:31).. Put that on your persecution complex… Also as a bonus.. The WORD says <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">TOUCH NOT</span> mine anointed and do my prophet no harm.. That should be enough to keep you… Now, rest easy… God’s Got you…</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30808592014-07-16T16:01:42-05:002014-07-17T09:25:08-05:00Finish!!!<span class="font_large"><strong>I want to send out a nugget to the one reading this who had begun a great work and for some reason stopped. You may have been chasing a dream and quit because of obstacles or lifes occurrences. You may have been looking at a God given vision and because you didn’t see the logistical means to go forth, you stood and yet stand still. You may have allowed the logic of church folk or educated people to talk you down off of the mountain. You may have let past failures be the reason why you won’t push towards your future successes. I have one word for you and it is an action word this time….. “FINISH!” My daughter recently played in a tournament and she was attempting to all the right things to score at the basket but she just kept missing. I yelled at her that she needs to finish… She wasn’t properly executing at the rim. Something that she has done successfully so many times in her life. She has a history of being a beast around the rim. She then let other stuff get in her head. She stopped being aggressive with the ball in her hand. It affected her defensive play and eventually her total game. Once we got away from it all. I was allowed to paint the picture for her on how she allowed little things to bother and skew her focus. If she had only stayed the course mentally, she would have gone off. I then told her that she has to clear her mind of all doubt and negativity and persevere. I want to say to the one reading this who quit on school, your marriage, your family, your dreams, your ministry, your happiness…… FINISH!!! You can do this!! God has placed you in the perfect place to shine and succeed. He has your back and has empowered you for such a time as this…. Stay in there… Stay positive… Execute…. FINISH!!!<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised</em></span>. - Hebrews 10:36</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30709062014-07-11T13:33:19-05:002014-07-11T19:54:29-05:00For No reason At All<strong><span class="font_large">As I read John 10:28 I received even greater revelation on the Love of God that I felt compelled to share. I have touched on this topic some before but feel the need to share again and hopefully issue out a nugget that you would consider fresh and nutritious. I want to reach out to the one who feels that they have fallen out of God’s graces because of their actions. I have come to find that God is so much not like us. So many of us love on condition and circumstances. We fall in and out of each other’s “good graces”. I imagined the book of life having my name written and erased in it so many times. If man controlled the book then maybe that thought would be true. The word of God is always checking me. Here is the nugget for you. There is nothing that you can do if you are a believer, to make God love you more than HE already does and when you mess up, HE doesn’t love you any less. HE already proved that with the sacrifice of HIS son. HE already knew that we would mess up so many times. The thing we need to know also is that doesn’t give us a pass to act ungodly. The second part of my nugget is for those who feel that they have the right to judge, be unforgiving and see their way as THE WAY. We must Love because God is LOVE. We cannot judge because we too will be judged and in order to be lifted up, we must deflate our egos and attitudes. Being a believer doesn’t give us a pass to cut up or act ugly. It just gives us the right to pursue God all out when we mess up. I love the LeCrae song which says I wanna be just like you. If you really mean that, we must take on the character of God. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Love</span> (1 Corinthians 13) <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">for no reason at all</span>. Our shepherd does it in our cases and what makes us think that we are higher than HE? Let me go even deeper on God’s unconditional love. Even when we are jacked up, he keeps us close. He promises eternal life… You know what? I am just going to leave this scripture with you.<br><br>John 10:28<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand</em></span></span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30551152014-07-03T09:17:40-05:002014-07-09T07:35:00-05:00Protecting The House From The Inside Out<span class="font_large"><strong>Today, my prayer is twofold. I am praying for our young folks. I was riding with my youngest a while back and really painting the picture of the enemy’s attempts to kill them off. He is getting at them at a rapid rate. Parents are sleeping on the tactics and are walking around like all is well. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">IT IS NOT WELL!</span> Every week I hear of some child committing suicide because of “bullying”. Children are listening to the voices of others, telling them to kill themselves… Evil is ever present in our schools and we downplay it so much. How is it that we are seeing so many "Christian kids" perform so many evil acts? We don’t encourage our Christian kids to be Christians.. We want them to be scholars and athletes but don’t stress the need for them to be “REAL CHRISTIANS”… To those of us who have been called to minister to them and our young adults, we are more into how many show up to our meetings and services… We are caught up in how to keep them entertained.. We have them in our Bible studies and in our step teams, choirs, and dance groups… They are there religiously but we aren’t really focused on truly molding the clay into solid Christians… Most of our young folks come to church and never truly get to know Christ… We aren’t working on how to introduce them to HIM…. When I look at my youth and young adults, I am looking for the light of Christ shining in them. I don’t want cute church folks. Not trying to put together the “hypest” youth and young adult group. I want them to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">LIVE</span>.. Not just exist.. I want them to know that evil really exists and knowing who God is for themselves. I want their worship to be for real and not a theatrical show… So tired of seeing that stuff. Church folks so many times see theatrics as a move of the Holy Ghost… Give me a break! The proof is in the pudding.. Look at our society. Look closely at our young folks… Not trying to exclude the older folks, because we are even more jacked up. The mere thought of my young folks not making it brought me to tears the other day. I love them more than they know. I want to see the real thing working in and around them. I don’t care how cute they are and theatrics won’t impress God. I want them to accept who they are in Christ, Embrace it, nurture their spiritual gifts, protect them from all evil, and let their lights shine bright. Without embarrassment of shame. Every good thing working in them came from God and for that they should never try to cover their lights in order to fit in with people… Lord, I pray that you adjust our mindsets as leaders this morning and regulate the minds of our young folks so that we can not only serve you right but survive.. We have been letting the adversary kill us from the inside out. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE</span>!!!! Strengthen us and minister to us RIGHT NOW… This is my sincere petition, prayed in the matchless name of Jesus the Christ. AMEN</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30438422014-06-27T09:53:05-05:002014-06-28T02:06:51-05:00A Cure for your Amnesia<span class="font_large">I often tell my young folks of one of my missions when it comes to them. I want to make sure that they never struggle with their identities. If we don’t know who we are, folks will easily be able to persuade us into being who they want us to be. Situation and circumstance will dictate who we become. Failures will dictate who we are. I don’t want my folks to feel that they must find their identities in Money, civic organizations and deeds that are not godly. I do must best to paint the picture with scripture to allow them to see themselves as God has intended. I always say the same thing to my young folks as they leave for college, military or a now location outside of where we currently live. I say <strong>“Don’t forget who you are.” </strong>I leave it at that. Going to college, so many of them temporarily lose thier minds and just forget all that was taught them. Some of them enter the military and temporarily go BUCK WILD! Now I sometimes reiterate it to them when I see their Facebook pages or evidence of them living a lifestyle outside of what God has intended <strong>"Don't forget who you are."</strong> I want to challenge the reader today who is or has been struggling with their TRUE God given identity. You must stop living in that state of spiritual amnesia. The many things that are happening in your life are to further mold you into the awesome vessel that God desires. Just because things may be tough, it doesn’t mean that it is impossible. The scriptures say that we can do all things through Christ. Never said that it would be easy. Now let me help you with your identity. If you are in Christ, stop letting people talk you into believing that you are the same jacked up individual that you were prior to being in Christ. There was a song that we use to sing and the lyrics were simple. “ If anybody asks you who I am.. Who I am.. Who I am.. Tell them I’m a child of God.” Let me help you out. When in Christ, you are called sons of God (Read Galatians 3), New creatures or creations(2 Corinthians 5), children of God and heirs of God(Romans 8). You are not like the ordinary Joe/Jane. That is why we bring light and salt to the game of life.<br><br>Chew on this and stop acting like you don’t know..<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><em>For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ</em></strong></span>.- Galatians 3:26-27<br><br>And if you don’t know, look in the BOOK. You will find out just who you really are.</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30367832014-06-24T11:03:06-05:002014-07-16T16:29:37-05:00Passing the Tests<span class="font_large">Dropping a quick nugget because this thing just ministered to me in an awesome way.. Have you ever had one of those weeks in which you were like “now what?” ”What else is going to hit me?”. I can recall several times in my life where I would look at such times and want to challenge God to prove HIMSELF to me. I know some of you have said before, “Lord send me a sign..” Seems as if we are always trying to put God to the test when we are not willing to face a test. That thing just hit me again as I am typing this.. I gotta get back to work.. LOL.. Look.. The only sign that we need is the WORD of God… I faced the revelation today that it is better for us to prove ourselves to God than to demand that HE keep proving HIMSELF to us. We are the ones who are being tested, not HIM. I can find several times when I fail HIM but HIS record of dependability in my life is perfect. I was having a conversation with my 16 year old about a certain test in life that she has pretty much kept failing. The solution and answers are clearly before her but she kept rebelling against the situation. I told her that until she just did what was right and passed the test, that she’d keep seeing different versions of the same test. She finally admitted that she was tired of failing the same test this weekend. We will see when it arises in her life again and it will come upon her again. I know there are some nosy folks trying to figure out just what I am talking about but this test is a simple lesson in life. When she gets it, she will be 1000 times better when complications arise. The specifics are none of your business… LOL… If you have failed a test lately… Stop looking for God to bail you out. Stop trying to cheat and just retake and pass the test.. Somebody ought to pray this with me.. Lord, no more excuses. I want you to be able to trust me with all that you have blessed me with. I now choose to do this thing the right way and face life’s challenges like a REAL MAN/WOMAN… This is my test to pass.. Not yours…. This nugget came to me as I hastily read Deuteronomy 8:6.. God has a way of getting our attention, in a hurry.<br><br>Deut 8:6-10<br><br><strong>6. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. </span><br>7. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills;</span><br>8. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;</span><br>9. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper</span>.<br>10. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you In other words</span><br><br>.. Just do what God says do. He will bless. Don’t run away from your tests.. just pass them.. He will blow your mind with how faithful HE is..</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30110482014-06-12T10:29:06-05:002014-06-12T13:40:07-05:00Got Your Back!<span class="font_large"><strong>Recently, My daughter was dealing with an issue and I heard one of her team mates say to her in her ear, “ I Got your back!” I thought that was so cool. You know the funny thing is with kids and adults I might say, something can arise and the very one who says that, can be the one with issues with you the next minute. So for a moment you find that they don’t have your back. Not saying that this is the case here. I am just looking over my life and some who claimed to have my back, had it for a season. I’m not mad at it. It is what it is. But let me give an encouraging word today to someone who really needs to hear this today. I know some of you reading this are laying on a bed of sunshine and daisies. Just read this anyway. Just in case a stormy day arrives in your life….. I tiptoe on this nugget because I don’t want folks to use this as an out to do wrong. But, I must minister to the one who is asking, “How can God love me?” Chew on this nugget early… God wants us to do good things and be good but he has also already made provisions for us when we fail to do so. Here is the scripture that I want you to feast on… 1 John 2:2 <em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">And He Himself is the propitiation </span></em>(atoning sacrifice) <em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world</span></em>…. Listen, God loves you.. Not because you are so lovable but because it is HIS nature … Your haters or your adversaries will do all that they can to persuade you that you are no good and helpless but you have one standing in your corner.. He canceled the debt of your sins.. No matter what you have done or are doing, God has no reason not to love you. The question is Do you love HIM enough to accept HIM..</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30065122014-06-10T14:42:21-05:002014-06-12T15:24:38-05:00It Just Won't DIE!!!<span class="font_large"><strong>Had an awesome revelation today. The Lord has been dealing greatly with future ministry moves that I am about to make. I need the assembly to bear with me. I have some great news to share. I have been dealing with young people for a long time. So many have come and gone. So many come back to give back in service. I love them all. Once upon a time I would be really bothered when folks chose to move on or “do something else”. I have had folks ask why we have been so successful with reaching the youth and young adults. I often gave simple answers like “keeping it real.” I have tried to be straight forward, firm and loving at the same time keeping it strictly ministry. I often have youth ministers and Pastors come to me telling me about the many strategies that they are using. I will have them mention certain Gospel rap songs that they play.. They look for me to give this “Wow-like” expression that I never give. I Hear of programs that they produce that they mirror the world in order to “ wisely reel them in”.. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">( Don’t you love the fishing terms?) </span>I have seen them kill ministries trying to be so innovative that the gospel is no longer present. I started to think on all of the young folks who we have been so blessed to come across. Those that got the real message and those who got caught up in a “feeling” . I can tell the ones who got it. You saw it in their lifestyles. The others we kept trying to paint the picture and kept praying that the light bulb would come on. Still praying for some. We have seen cycles of growth. Saw the need to start over at times. The hardest part was always starting a new work with a new group. I would question my ability to reach a newer generation of young folks with greater issues. Then I came upon a scripture that simply set my soul on fire today. This is for that ministry or church who folks tried to count out. The one thing that I learned through this revelation is God’s church will prevail. The ministry won’t die. Doesn’t matter who’s on board or not on board. This is what some preacher reading this today needs to know. Some minister who seems to be looking at their ministry struggling needs to know. The life of God’s church does not depend on us or people. It depends upon God. So many will criticize the ministry because ministries are convenient targets. Ministers are convenient targets. I told a guy one time that it didn’t matter if my young folks danced to Kirk Franklin or James Cleveland. It was God’s anointing on the ministry that made them special. Doesn’t matter if they sing Fred Hammond songs or acapella spirituals. It is dependent upon the Holy Spirit moving through them. I used no cultural influences. Plenty of folks have failed trying to be too clever. I recently told my young folks that we were going to do a service with no music or amplification. I wanted them to approach ministering as we have always done. With the intent on giving God our best sacrifice. One without blemish. Ok, back to sharing the great news… As I have said, the future of Gods Church does not depend on us, but God. That is something that should make some minster, Pastor, apostle, Bishop, you know who you are (I hope) shout aloud. The church will never fail. The church will never die. I’m talking about God’s Church! Let me drop the big one on you now and not keep you in suspense on why. Can I just do it with a scripture so that no one can argue with me? Thank you for granting me the permission.. Here it is.<br><br>Matthew 16… Jesus Says it.. Saying that, if you wanna debate, take it up with HIM.<br>Verse 18- And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…</span><br><br>Yes, it doesn’t really matter who’s on board or against the work of the Lord.. The church will not die. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The very gates of hell won’t prevail against it</span>. So I will put it simply like this. I may not be around to see that church in 50 years but the church will be here and thriving! I didn’t say it… Jesus did!</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/30034142014-06-09T13:59:03-05:002014-06-11T10:10:26-05:00Stay At It!<span class="font_large"><strong>After reading Luke 18, I want to share a word with the one who is reading this and thinking things are bad and getting worse. Read about the persistence of this woman in this story. What I want you to get is be it your job situation, your marriage, your children or whatever. YOU CAN’T GIVE UP! Keep on praying.. Keep on Trusting God and HIS words… Don’t get caught up in what it looks like in the natural. My God has a knack for doing so much behind the scene. While you’re trying to figure it out, God’s already working it out for you. While you’re at it bind and loose some things in your lives and the lives of your loved ones. <em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.</span></em> (Matthew 16:19) This morning, In my prayers I bind any demonic forces that may be present in your homes, in your thoughts, on your jobs, in your bodies…. I pray that God looses Angels of protection in your presence and in the presence of your spouses, children and family members. I pray that the spirit of hope be loosed and the Love of God be loosed. I also pray that a burning desire to know God and serve God be loosed upon the eyes of those who are reading this nugget today. A change is taking place… The atmosphere is shifting.. Will you hang around long enough to enjoy the moment??? To reap the benefits?? To see God work? You response is what???</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29926922014-06-04T11:32:12-05:002014-06-05T08:15:53-05:00Who's the Greatest?<span class="font_large">Let me start this nugget off with a question…. <strong>Who’s the GREATEST of ALL TIME?</strong> I have been dealing with a lot of people who tend to be doing their best to prove their superiority over others. Some claiming to be greater than another. I have seen folks in churches, claiming to be of higher status than others due to titles or appointments…. More anointed than others.. Smarter than others… It’s been funny. With my daughter and her basketball future, I have met coaches who claim to be better than others… More connected than others… But not many come across as caring for her welfare more than others. I then think of Jesus and the scriptures that I read today. Here He is, the son of God and his role played was <strong>SERVANT</strong>…. There were many great prophets, judges and kings in the Bible but the funny thing is none of them were greater than Jesus when it came to being a servant. He allowed himself to be nailed to a cross even though he knew that we’d disrespect him many times… Turn our backs from his brokenness.. The WORD says that he was a man of sorrow. Yep, He was despised and we didn’t even care. I know you are saying “I did.. I care.”.. Naah.. Check this.. He was wounded for our sins and not his.. The cross was so heavy because it contained our sins… He took a beating so that we could have peace.. He carried our weaknesses.. Most of all, because of that whipping, so many of us are now spiritually healed. I am so tired of boastful folks claiming to be the real thing.. The savior of me and my family. The one true way to our successes… Tired of folks claiming to be self proclaimed kings and greatness. I appreciate the servants who have come into my life and the lives of my family. Those who love and look out for us for no reason at all. Not bragging on what they have or who they know. I had a coach sit down next to me as he was scouting the varsity the other night for his junior college. He didn’t ask anything of me. He did offer to contact a division 1 school on my daughter’s behalf because he felt that she would be a good fit at their school. Not once did he make a pitch for his school. I sat next to him as he made that call and listened to the conversation. I have a friend who for no reason, linked my son up with a direct link to professional baseball. Didn’t want anything in return. He has been overjoyed with the fact that he knew someone who could help my kid. He went further and introduced my kid to an agent who appears to be very interested. This is not someone who I’ve known for years. He is a servant. I minister of the Gospel and humble.. God has placed many of this type of folks in my life lately. I am seeing so many examples which are telling me to focus on being a servant. He will make the least in others eyes the greatest. Thank God for the servants that HE has placed in my path. I most of all am grateful for the ultimate <strong>SERVANT</strong>.. As far as I am concerned, there is none greater than he… I call him Jesus!<br><br><br>Matt 20:28 <em>The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve </em><br><br>Isaiah 52:13 <em>Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high</em>.<br><br>Isaiah 53:2-5<br><strong>2.</strong> <em>For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.</em><br><strong>3.</strong> <em>He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</em><br><strong>4.</strong> <em>Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. </em><strong>5.</strong> <em>But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</em></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29896372014-06-03T09:22:42-05:002014-06-05T17:46:34-05:00Don't Fall For It!<span class="font_large"><strong>I want to encourage someone reading this to not fall to the pressures of life. I remember when I was younger there was always something there to tempt you. It seemed if you didn't curse or smoke weed, you weren’t cool. You were a punk if you weren’t having sex at a young age. If the crew was drinking, you better do it too. So many of these tests failed all in order to fit in the world’s scheme or not be ridiculed. We often let the thought of being right in the sight of God and different than society go out of our minds. You just wanted to be accepted. So many of my peers came from strong God fearing families but fell to the temptations placed before them. Many suffered and still do with drug addiction, spent time in the Pen, or contracted some awful disease. All in order to be accepted by the world. It’s like being accepted by God isn’t good enough. I have some pretty gifted kids. Along with trying to make sure that they don’t get caught up in that stuff, I counsel them on finding pride in doing the right thing. Years ago, we were at a basketball tournament and between the games that had a counseling session for the kids. They asked for every kid who had a 4.0 GPA to stand up. My daughter Alicia stood up with a very small group of kids. The thing that I noticed is she seemed to be embarrassed because she wasn’t a part of the majority. She didn’t find pride in the fact that she was an exceptional student. I had to counsel her on that. My little one is a pretty good basketball player and she normally plays with older kids. She has been picked on because she has gotten more time on the court or sometimes because she may score more points than others. Kids will tell her that she is being favored or try to point out her flaws on the court. She then feels the need to defend herself. I told her that she owes no one any explanation for being a good player. They aren’t in the gym with me sweating and working like she and her siblings do. This is something that I have had to deal with all of my kids on. Now, I had to counsel my son to not want to punch folks in the face when they acted that way. I just tell them to work on being right in the eyes of God. Not fall to the temptations that the situations may bring because the results of falling are painful. To the one reading this, you have been doing your best to do it right in the eyes of God. Others try to discourage you by either talking about you or trying to tempt you to get out of character. This is nothing new, so don’t worry or fret. Just keep doing it right!<br><br>When Christ came off of a 40 day fast, the devil was the first one to greet him, looking for a vulnerable moment. He made more than one attempt to trip Jesus up. Tried to go at the physical first, then he tried to get Jesus to use his power for personal gain. He next attempted to offer material gain in exchange for the devotion of Jesus. He offered Jesus the world in exchange for his worship. Jesus didn’t fall to temptation and because of that, the devil left and angels came to minister to him and his needs.<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">God will continue to favor you, meet and exceed your needs </span>if you would just refuse to yield to the temptations. Desire to be right! Even when they try to make you wrong.<br><br>Read Matthew 4: 1-11 and stay the course. Don’t fall for it!</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29868142014-06-02T09:44:39-05:002014-06-02T13:01:10-05:00Getting In On the Divine Partnership<span class="font_large"><strong>Read slowly and try to grasp this. This is for the one who may be in a bad spot right now and is wondering what good can come from it. First things first, a divine partnership with God is a must. It takes one to be submissive and being honest. That in itself is a struggle for most. We are so unruly and our attention spans seem to be way too short. I know someone reading this thinks that they are two steps from glory and this is not for you. If so, just humor me and continue reading this anyway. We all have heard and quoted Romans 8:28 (especially when things got hot), All things work together for good and you know the rest. If not, read your Bibles...LOL..To receive that good takes both consent and cooperation. God isn't going to force you to submit to HIM, but once you do HE has room to work for and through us. At this point HE is able to get good out of any bad situation. To also get some good out of it we must work with HIM. I have teamed up with lots of folks over the years. Had some really good things come out of the partnerships. Then came times where I may have made moves or decisions that weren’t popular, I was treated differently or dismissed. Talking about being in a bad place. But then God would show up and show me the importance of being in a greater partnership. Saying, that here is the scripture that I am using to solidify just what I have said. This is a powerful statement in reference to the divine partnership...<br><br>Colossians 1:29 <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.</span> NIV<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily</span>. KJV<br><br>Are you in such a partnership with HIM? If not, you might want to consider joining the struggle. His energy will empower us to endure and fight a good fight and finish the long course.</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29824502014-05-30T12:41:47-05:002014-05-31T04:40:03-05:00Filling That Void in Your Life<strong><span class="font_large">I was in the Old Testament today and came across a scripture that I want to share with those of you who may be filling like you are lacking something. Especially those who are not feeling spiritually full. I want to share something that should add some excitement to your day. I needed this and it came right on time. I was looking at the times when I was feeling that I didn’t have everything that I needed to do ministry or take care of my family or even myself. I can recall having ministry events set up and things started to appear to fall apart. One thing would happen after the other. Pieces that I considered critical to an event happening and because things didn’t go as I saw it should, I began to be concerned. I actually almost went there today and the Word of God reminded me that God simply loves to fill places where there appears to be a void. The Bible says that the world was void and without form and GOD spoke and the universe was filled.. He took the dust of the earth, looked at it after forming it.. It was void of life and God breathed into the clay and man became a living soul. So many of us were living foul.. Headed to hell.. Void of HIS precious HOLY SPIRIT…. Then HE moved upon us and now we are new creations.. God specializes in this.. Saying that, if you have a void in your life… Know that God WILL fill it.. This scripture shook my very core this morning.. Thought that I would share it..<br><br>Numbers 14:21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29760232014-05-28T08:03:43-05:002014-05-28T12:03:24-05:00Today's Nugget: Get Up!<span class="font_large"><strong>I am moved to send out an encouraging word to the ones who feel like they have been simply buried underneath their circumstances and feel like everyone has left them for dead. You know how it is sometimes. When things go sour in your life, folks treat you like you have the plague. SOMETIMES EVEN YOUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS WILL DO IT. I was rereading about Lazarus. When Jesus arrived on the scene he had been dead long enough that his body had started to decompose. His own sister seemed to not want to be near him at that point because she spoke against them rolling away the stone of his burial place because his body stunk. His situation was considered to be a dead issue or a done deal. As folks kept trying to persuade Jesus that all was lost, he wept and also groaned in disappointment. As long as HE is on the scene we ought to know that no issue is a dead issue. Jesus spoke over Lazarus and life came back into his body. Here is what I have for you. Things may seem dark and dismal. Everyone may see your situation as a dead issue. They may be treating you like you have the plague but don’t you fall for that. No matter how much it stinks, Christ will go beyond that. No matter how far underneath you may find yourself buried in your circumstance, it is not too late. You are not finished yet! It is not over! Don’t just die there… BREAK OUT! Can you hear HIM saying? GET UP!<br><br>Read John 11</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29461772014-05-14T09:48:11-05:002014-06-05T08:44:48-05:00Focus on your own Cup. What God has for you is for you<span class="font_large">I am a guy who simply loves competition. Growing up, I have always loved to compete. In my house, we are all so competitive that a simple game of monopoly, could start a fight. I mean folks will lose sleep over losing.. LOL… Now let me go this way today. I have learned to not worry what people say about me or mine. I have learned to not be watching to see who is plotting or planning to set me or my folks up for failure. I was just saying to a friend that I don’t find it necessary to jump through certain hoops that others do or to worry about certain things in ministry because I truly believe that what God has for me is truly mine if I want it. I look at preachers competing for members.. I look at Christian artists competing with secular artists to the point where God’s spirit becomes invisible in their works. All we have to do is do what God says.. It doesn’t matter if folks are plotting against you on the job, in the community or in school. Do as God is leading you. I tell folks that I don’t worry about the tests that my kids face because God has set them up in a manner that they always end up on their feet. My 16 year old is about to enter into what we feel is a critical time as far as basketball is concerned. You try to get them seen by the right colleges, train their bodies and skill sets to make them marketable. You place so much trust in high school and club coaches to do what they are supposed to do in order to have your child in the best position possible. So many of us don’t include the will of God in any of our thought processes. We pIace all of our eggs in the baskets of folks who may or may not truly care about the future of our children. I often tell parents that no coach will love or care for your child more than you do. I make it a point to do my part first and if they help out, good. If not, it’s OK as well. I have taught my kids to be competitive but not to the point that they become haters of those who put in the hard work and reap from them. I encourage them to trust God, put in the work and watch the fruits of their labor be produced. Though it is a process, I’ve tried to teach them not to focus on the perceptions of folks trying to discredit them or bring them down. What God qualifies, no man can disqualify. What God has for them is for them. I shared with my wife over the years when folks tried to back door her at work, to not focus so much on them but to continue to seek God and HE always took care of her. I don’t feel the need to take anything away from you. I truly trust that what God has for me is more than enough.. it is more than what I could ask or think of. I just need to do as HE says do. Let me lay a couple of scriptures on your plate today for you to munch on. Some of you don’t really want to hear what I have to say so I trust that you trust the Word of God. This is where I see myself and mine… This is where you have to start seeing yourself. Psalm 16:5-6 says..<em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong> LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.. </strong></span></em><br><br>In other words, what God has for me is truly for me… God has already set your blessings aside. More than enough… TRUST THAT! Just do the work of the Lord and you will receive the fruit of your labor and some… As for you folks who constantly are looking into someone elses yard and trying to sip from their cup, I want you to know that when you spend your time worrying about what others are doing, plotting or what they have, you are just confirming your lack of faith in God… I don’t know about you but I’m not worrying about what’s in your cup. Mine is good enough.<br><br>Eat some more… <em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>"If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. . . The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you"</strong></span></em> (Deut 28:1-8).</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29409132014-05-12T10:25:12-05:002014-06-05T11:05:29-05:00In My defense<span class="font_large"><strong>I was reading David’s' words and again, a simple verse ministered to me oh so strongly today. Ever felt like the world was against you? Because you chose to do as God has led you, others who cannot comprehend, tend to conduct a witch hunt? So many times my instincts have been to buck up and fight force on force. So many times those actions set me back.. Then I learned to not move on my emotions but by the leading of God's spirit... Still yourself right now... This is for someone reading this thing. I am actually trembling as I type it.. I don't know who you are or even the extent of your persecution but you have done nothing wrong. Yet, you stand persecuted and falsely accused. You are misunderstood by those who claim to be believers but because of their lack of a true encounter they chose to target you and your ministry. You and your gifts. The way God has chosen for you to move... Here is what you do and don't deviate. Stand secure in your faith... The only defense that you need... The only approval that you need is God and God alone. You don't owe anyone any excuses or explanations. God knows what's up! Nuff said. Just feast on the power of these words.. I offer this benediction.<em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> May HIS strength empower you to stand.. May HIS peace settle you and all around you..Not only shall you stand protected but you shall stand victorious.. IN THE MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS THE CHRIST! </span></em><br><br><br>Psalm 59:9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defense.</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29311842014-05-09T08:35:56-05:002014-05-09T10:30:39-05:00Avoiding Infection and Disease<span class="font_large">I was reading my WORD and it so hit “ME’.. I am hoping that this is for someone reading this. It is funny how something that is good and beneficial to some can be bad for you. You hear stories of folks that live to be 100 and they say the only thing that they’ve done is smoke a cigar all of their lives. Well we all know that smoking is supposed to shorten your life. Let me use a better example of two. Penicillin has been used to kill disease and bacteria for years, but when given to my son when he was younger, it caused and allergic reaction. One that that if continued could have possibly killed him. We all hear of the benefits of eating peanuts. Well, my oldest daughter, if exposed could possibly die. It causes her airways to close. There are things in this life that we, for the sake of being fruitful, and successful must just stay away from. There are things that are no good for you but were designed to make you feel good. Then there are other things that have value to some but are deadly to you. So many folks die from overdoses of prescription drug use and abuse daily. Some things we just cannot be exposed to. We often see some of them as small things but I have come to realize and concur with the scripture which tells us that the small foxes spoil the vine. Speaking of me… There are places that I cannot go, things that I cannot do, people that I cannot expose myself to because they all could prove to be deadly.. Deadly to my ministry, my family, and even my soul. Now these things may serve others well but like the old song says, “what God has for me, it is for me.” I’ve had to learn that when I try to force issues that aren’t God ordained, I cause a reaction or reactions.. They tend to be very unhealthy and if not fixed or avoided, deadly. I look at my ministry. I know that God has many for me to reach, but I must first learn to be faithful over the few that HE has placed in my path. Every time I attempt to go faster than HE, I cause a terrible reaction. I set myself up for some failure. There are things that I am not supposed to be exposed to. When I do so, it affects not only me, but everyone in my close circle. Being a “man”, when God sends someone my way to tell me that my way was the wrong way, I’ve often rebelled, only to deal with the same reaction that I so much hated the last time. I was drawn to the end of Matthew 5. It was breaking down how you can have everything in order but if one part of you is out of sync of line, it can prove deadly. When you come upon such a thing, it is best not to nurse it… This is a about survival. You must <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>CUT IT OFF!... </strong></span>I envision a plane crash victim, who survives the crash but is trapped under some large piece of the plane. HE must chose to cut off his arm with a knife or die where he lies.. The survival instincts kick in and he cuts away. Some of us need to cut away some of our attitudes, some of our ways and methods, cut off some of our associations, and stop going to some of the places we used to go. You can be going for the right reasons but if the environment is not geared for you, then you need to leave. I’ve come to terms that so many times I had been moving waay faster than God. I wasn’t mature enough for some of the situations that I found myself in. My methods weren’t GOD’s methods. I looked at the life of a deacon last year. Snuffed away because he tried to do this his way and not how God wanted him to do things. I cannot let that be me. Though I know what God has for me, I’ve decided to go at HIS pace and use HIS methods… To the one reading this… I am talking about survival… There are so places that you aren’t mature enough to be, some places that you weren’t meant to be, and some places where others can thrive and you’ll find famish. Find out where God wants you.. If you are in it for the right reasons and things are going wrong, then you need to seek GOD and most likely kick rocks and avoid what could be a deadly reaction. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Cut it OFF</strong></span>, Be set Apart, don’t ignore the small foxes.. Get em out of there…. We are called out to be different and do different. Let’s step looking into what seems to be the “Current Way” of doing things and trust God’s Way. We are to just let HIM place us and once where HE places us.. We are to change this world.. If you are getting this… Say this and mean it.. “Lord, not my way but your way..” Here is a scripture to feed on:<br><br><em><strong>13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16 29<br><br>If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.</strong></em></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29287442014-05-08T12:12:11-05:002014-06-05T11:00:03-05:00You Have The Power.. Now Use Your Authority!<span class="font_large"><strong>I wanna give someone a nugget to shout on today! This is for the one who has the identity crisis or you have just simply forgotten.... Newsflash... <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Through Christ, you are a Force to be reckoned with!</span> Fit for any fight.. And a demon killa! We have inherited the same authority and power that Jesus gave his disciples in Luke chapter 9. The WORD says that HE gave them power and authority over ALL the demons... Authority meaning the right to rule.. Just like a cop has the right to pull over a reckless driver, God has deputized us to rule over demons. You been given the responsibility to proclaim the kingdom of God, but He has also given us power and authority to do it and smash any demon in your way! While in ourselves we don't have the ability to resist Satan and his demons, in Christ we do. Saying that, know just how awesome you are in Christ today. If you have been in a fight and may have been down. Get up and start swinging! By the power and authority vested in you by Christ the King.. Take your opponent out.. He is a defeated foe.. Start seeing what you can do thru Christ and not what you cannot do on your own.. When everyone else is punkin out like the Israelites sometimes did, be like David and stare your enemy in the face and be like "Who is this, who actually thinks that they can mess with me, a member of the army of the living GOD?" Someone oughta be feelin really hype right now. You have been granted authority to spiritually wreck some stuff!</strong></span>4:15Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29265482014-05-07T14:16:15-05:002014-05-07T14:17:16-05:00Do you Have a Clue or are you clueless?<strong><span class="font_large">I talk to a lot of youth and young adults and I like to inquire about their plans. I let them go on and tell me of their dreams to be a professional this or that. Their plans for financial freedom and wealth. Then I ask the question. "What else?" Ooh. That gets them every time. I then ask the question of "what if you don't achieve those goals, what then?" I must say that any answer they give me to an extent is ok. At least they are dreaming or have some kind of vision. I get frustrated at the ones who have no clue of what they want or would like to go. I used to blast my kids when they would give me the "I don't know" answer when asked "What do you plan on doing after high school?" Well in time the Lord gave me a word to share to encourage them as well. I want to tell this to the one who stands clueless today. This is also to the one who have taken steps in a certain direction, things don't seem to be working out and you don't know which way to go next.. Though you may not have a concrete idea or plan... God does. HE has it designed just for you and your success. Seek HIM and HE will lay it out for you. Lead you in the direction of it. Listen, you may go through a wilderness period on the way but your land of promise is ahead. Just stay the course. It'll all work out for your good.<br><br>David said it this way:<br><br> Psalms 16:10<br><br>You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29229672014-05-06T08:22:06-05:002014-05-07T09:49:40-05:00AWESOME!!!<span class="font_large"><strong>I know that we all have done some awesome feats in the eyes of others and sometimes in our own sight. Let's not get the gas face thinking that we deserve such a title as "awesome". Yeah, some of you may have 6 figure salaries, be debt free, pray till the building shakes, sing or play an instrument and folks flop like fishes at the sound, have a fine family and material "stuff". But which of us can roll back the sky, create a universe, suffer, die and rise from the dead to redeem man? I'm not trying to crush any spirits today or belittle anyone but when I think of the word "awesome", I think of God. When I think of what HE does and has done, the word Awesome comes to mind. We have done and do so much by HIS grace and His grace alone, but let's keep things in the proper perspective. God said that when HE created man, man was good. Good doesn't compare to awesome. Let's check ourselves today. I'm gonna speak for Brown.. I am not awesome, nor have I done anything so awesome to be recognized as such. Now, my God is an "AWESOME" God.. I'm feelin that someone reading this, needed to get a look at this because I normally don't go this route. I pray that it ministers to you.</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29155332014-05-02T11:25:48-05:002014-05-02T14:02:48-05:00THE CURE FOR THAT IRRITATING ITCH THAT YOU HAVE...<span class="font_large"><strong>I was sharing this message with and read yet another familiar scripture. Matthew 6: 33 and for those who don’t have their Bibles out, it say: Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV) I looked at the word “Seek” It means to relentlessly pursue.. Go all out in order to get. In this case it means to go all out to allow Jesus to be Lord over your life and the righteousness that is needed for you to live a life that pleases God. If you do that God will give you access to HIS Kingdom and righteousness and while doing so will bless you with all that you need in this life. In this life until we truly submit to HIM, we live with an itch.. It is an internal itch. One that we are constantly trying to find source to ease it. Some have tried money.. Others sex, and power. Some thought that fame would do it.. Didn’t work. The things that most of us have pursued in this life, once achieved or attained, became boring and didn’t quite cure the itch. It may have given a temporary relief but after the initial “high” the trip down placed us in a far worse place. They’ve left us feeling empty and bound. Saying that, I want you to take a good look at you. Does that internal itch still exist? Is there something in you that won’t allow you to be truly satisfied. Are you yet feeling like you and your life is in lack? What have you been seeking. What have you been in hot pursuit of? Newsflash.. If it isn’t the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness, you’ll continue to carry that irritating permanent itch… I truly hope that those reading this have been seeking in the right direction… Take it from me.. That itch never goes away until you find the right balm…</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29124442014-05-01T08:36:23-05:002014-06-05T11:10:37-05:00What Are You Passionate About?<span class="font_large"><strong>Today’s nugget came from my reading of Nehemiah, Chapter 2. Nehemiah heard the news of the walls of Jerusalem being in ruins. This truly disturbed him. So much that the King, who he was a cupbearer to, could plainly see his sorrow. The King granted Nehemiah a request and Nehemiah was prepared with a clear plan of what he wanted to do and how he planned on getting it done. Nehemiah wanted to rebuild the wall. He gathered other skilled and passionate men. They went to Jerusalem and encouraged the inhabitants of Jerusalem to begin the great work of rebuilding the walls. Nehemiah’s passion for what he was doing kept him focused. Even when enemies of the children of Israel tried to stop the work with false accusations. Ok…. Here is my nugget.. It begins with a question. What are you passionate about? Does it honor God? Does it serve HIS purpose or your purpose? Are you passionate about God’s people or is it all about you? Are you just wanting to stay in the cozy castle or do you have a passion to get out there in the ruins and dung to do the work that isn’t sexy? So many try to make this work of ministry sexy but trust me, it hasn’t been for me. I’m cool with that. As long as God gets the glory! Let’s pray for a heart that seeks to please God and the courage to do good work and stay devoted to God’s cause.</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29102362014-04-30T13:04:44-05:002014-06-05T11:17:13-05:00What Does Love Look Like To you?<span class="font_large">Hey Family,<br><br>I know you hear folks telling you that they love you. He said it to you... She said it.. You believed it.. Then you were disappointed. You even told the lie.. I don't think you meant to lie.. Let's look at a great description of love... Maybe this will help.<br><br><strong>WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE?</strong><br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Love is patient and kind</span></strong>.-Does that describe you? Are you ever impatient with you spouse, kids or those close to you? With that cashier who is moving slow or struggling to get your change right? With the waitress who got your order all jacked up? And kindness- After a long day at work and everything seemed to be going wrong. Do you take it out on your folks? Are you quick to speak a sharp word or tear folks down just because you aren’t having it your way? How many times have you hurt folks with your harsh words? <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude</span></strong>.-Did that step on any toes? Who just loves to boast on their accomplishments? Are you the type who doesn’t mind patting themselves on the back, forgetting that the accomplishment came only by God's grace. <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Love does not demand its own way</span></strong>.-This is really getting personal. What's wrong with demanding my own way when I am so sure it's the right way? But I guess that's not showing love. They think their way is right too. I guess I should listen to what they are saying. <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged</span></strong>.-Love aint cussing your people out or going into a rant. We really need to learn to forgive and put the past in the past. "<strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out</span></strong>.-We need to work more on wanting truth and justice in every situation, even when the outcome is not what we think we want. <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance</span></strong>.-I know if I have God's love in me, I won't give up no matter what the circumstances. How about you?<br><br>1 Corinthians 13: 4-7..<br><strong>4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.<br>5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.<br>6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.<br>7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.</strong><br><br>If you have someone telling you that they love you and you don’t see this, they are simply making noise. Verse 1 of the same passage says this: <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.</span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/29065142014-04-29T10:25:22-05:002014-05-12T10:06:20-05:00Nevermind Them.....<strong><span class="font_large">Good Morning Family,<br><br>I want to send out an encouraging nugget today from the Book of Ezra, chapter 6. Let me start here first. I want to talk to the paranoid one who is always being concerned about the folks who are either talking about them or seemingly plotting your fall. GIVE IT A BREAK!! You spend too much time giving authority and credit to folks who don’t rightfully deserve your attention or fears. One thing that I’ve learned in this walk of mine with the Lord is that it really doesn’t matter what people think or say about me. I am not concerned about plots that they made have been working in order to take me down or out. Not concerned about folks trying to discredit me. I think it is so foolish when folks get mad because they hear about folks talking about them. We leave no room for God to move because we feel the need to always defend ourselves and our honor. Let me go to the story. If you all read my last nugget from Ezra 5, you heard about how there was opposition to the Jews building the temple. The opposition even went to the King to stop the building. They thought that they had the power to stop God’s movement. King Darius called for a search for the decree that King Cyrus had given the Jews. If there was no decree found, the work must stop. Well someone found the decree in the archives but check this… <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">LOOK AT HOW GOD WORKS!</span> Darius commanded the very folks who opposed the Jews to assist in the building of the temple. Someone reading this needs to slow down and digest this message. Ready?... God will even use those who oppose HIS people and HIS work to accomplish what HE wants done. He will make your enemy suffer the embarrassment to being the source of your success. God will do the unexpected in your life. You just have to stay focused on HIM and not your opposition. Look confidently upon Him and quit fearing what others can do to you. <em>We give too much credit to the enemy and not enough to God</em>…</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/28902802014-04-22T16:11:54-05:002014-04-22T16:11:54-05:00Handling the Pressure<span class="font_large"><strong>I am a basketball nut... One of the things I like is a strong defense.. Ask the Leavenworth Lady Pioneers what got them a State Championship and anyone who knows basketball will tell you it was <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">DEFENSE</span>. Nothing like putting the pressure on the opponent and watching them crumble. Alot of folks talked about the fact that we had four six footers but the real basketball fans talked about the teams defense. Here is my nugget for today.<br><br>Was reading Ezra 5 and it talked about the building of the 2nd temple which began under Zerubbabel’s leadership. Construction went for 2 years and ceased for 14 yrs. Later Haggai and Zechariah got the Jews to complete the work. As the work continued the opposition to the work arose. When they couldn’t scare them out of continuing, the opposition tried to back door them by going to King Darius. Either way, the work continued and God made a way. Here is my nugget. When we go about God’s work and it is a great work, opposition will arise. When that opposition can’t scare you into quitting they will try to infiltrate your work from any and all directions. Don’t you give into the pressure! The bigger the task, the hotter the pressure cooker… Can you take the pressure or will you crumble?</strong></span><br><br> Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/28809862014-04-18T10:55:45-05:002014-04-18T10:56:51-05:00Who Are You Rallying Around?<span class="font_large">I was reading 2 Chronicles 35 and out came today’s nugget. It talked about King Josiah. Someone who dared to do what God wanted him to do. One who didn’t make excuses or exception. When he took over as King he commanded his people to celebrate the Passover to the Lord for the first time in a long time. His compassion and commitment to the Lord was viral.. It moved his people to live holy and righteous lives. It made those who didn’t want to live holy want to stay out of his way. See we need to understand that righteous living is <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>contagious</strong></span>. Just like evil is contagious. <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WATCH WHO YOU CHILL WITH ON THE REGULAR!</span></strong> What they have in them will jump on you before you know it. Josiah’s holy lifestyle and ways motivated the priests and Levites to rally. All of Judah and Israel came together and was once again a powerful nation. See when we huddle under the right leadership, we win. Again, if the leadership doesn’t point in God’s direction, you are being led the wrong way and you are on the wrong team. During Josiah’s life, the folks lived their lives committed to the Lord and they were united and powerful. After the king died, four godless kings followed and Judah was brought to ruin. My question is today, who are you rallying around? What contagion do you carry? Holiness or unrighteousness?<br><br>Bless You,<br><br>Kai'</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/28721372014-04-15T10:42:57-05:002014-04-16T23:11:50-05:00Dealing with Pride and Ungodly Counsel<span class="font_large"><strong>Hey Family,<br><br>Today I read 1 Kings 12. It talked about the transition of a United Kingdom which sat under Solomon being divided into 2 kingdoms. Israel <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">(10 tribes)</span> up north and Judah <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">(2 tribes)</span> in the south. It also talked about how after the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam rejected the wise counsel of Jeroboam. Rehoboam foolishly listened to those who proclaimed to love him and be his true friends. All they were really doing was giving shallow advice and appealing to Rehoboams’ pride. Following such lame and ungodly counsel led to the 10 tribes revolting against the king. Then the 10 tribes decided to follow Jeroboam. The sad thing is Jeroboam compromised in order to attempt to keep the folks under his reign. He went against the ways of God and set up an idolatrous religion and continued to conduct worship at the temple in Jerusalem. Not a good decision. Look, I want to speak to my people today. We must be very careful not to let pride get in our ways. It is said that pride comes before the fall. How many times have we allowed folks come in and claim to be in our corner and they seem to want you to first rid yourself of other previous association? I have a very good friend who I call my brother to this day. We may have not seen eye to eye on everything over the years but he has proven to be my REAL brother. I have seen him cry just because I was in pain. The funny thing is I had friends who would try to discourage our friendship because of issues that may or may have not come up. They would say things to feed my ego and pride. Tried to make me feel like I was better than my friend and that my friend was such a terrible person. The very ones who played the role of the better friends had lifestyles so opposite of the life that God wanted me to lead. They often encouraged such sinful deeds and acts yet all the time throwing in a Jesus statement from time to time to make it seem life they had my well being in mind. They constantly fed my pride and it cost me some blessings and caused me some heartache and pain. I probably missed out on some good folks that God wanted me to have in my life. I had a friend who would fight by my side and have my back in a brawl or argument but he was not good for my soul. He was so far from living a Christian life that I eventually had to cut him off. It was a painful thing but at the end of the day, I’ll take Jesus over any earthly friendship. Saying all of this, I urge you, the reader of this nugget to check the ones standing by you, calling you Bruh, Sis, Bestie, Boo, and ECT. If they have not been pointing you to Christ and living like so, you need to consider your soul. If they have been encouraging you to tear down relationships instead of fixing and possibly building them, be careful. If they aren’t trying to encourage you to forgive then know that aint God working in them. Yeah.. I said it. When Christ was on the cross, He asked the FATHER to forgive the very ones who put HIM there.. The one who denied HIM.. The ones who laughed at HIM, spit on HIM, flaked on HIM by cheering for HIM one day and selling Him out for a thug the next. He asked the FATHER to forgive us for the many times we take HIS act of love that HE performed for us and we dismiss it to satisfy our flesh.. He asked the FATHER to forgive the ruler who let the majority have a say when he knew the majority was wrong. Don’t let pride and foolish counsel from others who either don’t know better or care to do better lead you down a path of destruction. You ultimately will have to suffer the consequences. I encourage you to read 1 Kings 12 and if this ministers to you, I ask that you share with all that you TRULY care about.</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/28503052014-04-07T10:10:13-05:002020-11-14T01:55:44-06:00In It To Win itEach of life’s tests is a training session, to build your endurance. Deal with it! Get your workout on! Don’t quit. If God has shown you a land of promise, you will need endurance to get there. This is something that I am often reminded of. Being tested in this area right now. To my haters and any opposition that may come my way.. I was built to last! To my family and friends who are going through a storm or tough season.. You must endure.. God’s Word says “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36.
Who’s in it to Win it?
5:56Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/28454512014-04-04T14:49:10-05:002014-04-07T09:04:41-05:00The Value of a DAY<span class="font_large">I woke up early this morning thinking of and missing my Great grandparents, William and Gertrude Brown. They taught me so much through their words shared with me in my teen years and by how I witnessed their living. Before I knew about Real love, my grandfather would share nuggets with me. I guess he was trying to prepare me. He mentioned the importance of a day. He often let me know that if we wasted one, we could not go back and get it or fix it. When he prayed and I heard them, I often would cry because I could feel the fervent fire in them. He prayed like each prayer could be his last prayer. Some of the things that I would hear come out were so prolific that I can still remember words spoken, long after he has departed this world. I would see him give into a debate with my grandmother at times, even when he may have been right. He was quick to mention that he didn’t want to be at odds, even in disagreement. I guess he was again seeing the importance of a day. My Grandmother was stern but loving. She spoke her mind but I never heard a word come out of her mouth to me, my grandfather, or her children that would appear to be abusive or said in a manner to make you feel like you were nothing. She caught me in the wrong a lot as a teenager and some in my early adult years. Her soft voice would deliver a firm scolding but with such love. I mean she could scold me and I would just go to another room and cry really hard. She would confirm her love for me and reassure me that she was there for me. If I could hear that voice one more day… I never felt belittled or abused. I remember one time, going to bed mad at her in high school because she caught me in the wrong and called me out. The next morning she told me the dangers of going to bed angry over nothing and the possibilities of never being able to go back to correct a bad attitude from the day prior. I look back on my years spent with them and how wonderful it was to see them love on each other and me. Every day seemed to be so special to them. Yes, they were up in age at the time that I was there but to see that was something that I had never witnessed like that. Not even in my own mother and father. I saw the hole that was created in my grandmothers’ heart after my granddad passed away. She still smiled and loved us but she was never the same. She would often tell me how she missed her “Fats”. I never knew how to respond to that because though I missed him so much, I dared not attempt to try to compare it to what she was feeling. I know she had to wish sometimes for another Day. Their wedding anniversary is tomorrow. A day before mine. I try to use the examples that they’ve set before me in my life. I know that I came in after a time when they seemed to have it figured out. I know that they both were married before they married each other. I also know of them getting together breaking up and eventually getting back together for the long haul. I didn’t see the events of those days. I saw the love filled days of “Momma and Fats”. How each day with each other and the Lord was looked upon as a gift. I was told of the pain of them burying a child of theirs. I saw how it affected in a positive way that they loved on and related to their children. Now, as I have seen so many of my family members leave this earth and now so many of my friend that are my age and younger departing this life, I am reminded of the importance of a day. And the true brevity of life. I understand the true value of love, family, and friendship. I see the importance of living a holy lifestyle and being ready when the Lord calls me home. I listened to Winans Phase 2 as they song about being about to be with the Lord, “Just for a Day”. I looked over my life at the things that I’ve said and done which may have jeopardized that. Really? I look at my babies. I missed so many days of their lives for so many reasons. I look at days that I lost in my marriage that cannot be replaced. One day this will all be over. Someone reading this, if you hung on long enough to finish it, you will see the importance of a day. Some of you have let minor disputes hurt a friendship that you have no true understanding of its’ value. A family member who you refuse to forgive. Take it from me, tomorrow is not promised. I have officiated a few funerals of some very young folks. Seen some regret on the faces of family members and friends. Husbands who wished that they loved their wives better and wives feeling the same. Kids wishing that they honored their parents better and trying to make up by buying expensive caskets and flowers for a funeral. I often use 1 Corinthians 13 when I counsel couples before marriage. Paul had a way of breaking down what love is and the things that love won’t allow you to do. This love that I am talking about is something that we must desire and pray for. I got to see it working through my great grandparents on a daily basis but didn’t quite know what I was looking at during that time. James chapter 4 really reminds me of how brief life is. I see the importance of a day. Yes, I often am looking towards the future but I am learning to appreciate each day. It is proof of the grace and mercy of God in my life. When I see my family each day, I wanna see them as the gifts that God gave me and not waste a day. When I inhale and exhale consciously for the first time in the morning, I wanna be grateful and express it to my God. I don’t want to waste that day. I am confident that I have possibly lived more days that I have left to live on this earth. I dare not want to waste another. I call my Dad as often as I can. He is the only parent that I have left. I don’t know how much longer the Lord will have him on loan to me. I don’t want to waste another day. I will have been married 26 years, come this Sunday to a beautiful young lady that I have basically grown up with. I could stop breathing at any time. Until then I want to love her right and not waste a day on anything that doesn’t matter. I have been called to minister to Gods’ people. I do not want to get caught with my work undone. Can’t waste another day. This is not really a LOVE nugget. I will do that on another day. This is about maximizing the moment. Let me give you a scripture to hopefully open some eyes.</span><br><br><br><span class="font_large">James 4:14 <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.</em></span></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/28410222014-04-03T08:14:36-05:002014-04-05T00:25:42-05:00Prove Me..<span class="font_large"><strong>Good Morning family,<br><br>I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit! It is amazing how God’s promises never fail or fall short. I was needing a word for my spirit this morning. I have so much to be thankful for. Yet, I felt really HEAVY..I was in the car with my girls this morning and as I’m talking to them, I am like “Lord, I am trying my best. Is it good enough for you? If it isn’t, please show me the way. “ I really want to be what HE wants me to be 1st and foremost. I often pray over my young folks and ask God to perform that Spiritual surgery needed for them to walk the walk. Today, as I finally dropped off my little one, I asked God to do that for me and as I did that, the following scripture was given to me. I have read it, and heard it recited but like the songs that I sing, I just don’t like to recite any ole scripture. I search from within. Today, I was given the following scripture. If there is anyone out there who is saying, Lord, I’m trying but I want to make sure that I am right in your sight more than anyone else, let this scripture sink in your heart and spirit today. Meditate on it. At the end of the day, it is crucial that God is pleased. </strong><br><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:<br>24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting</strong></em></span>.<br><strong>Psalm 139:23-24</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/28386302014-04-02T11:53:41-05:002014-04-02T11:55:10-05:00Are You a Dead Sea?<span class="font_large">I want to see if we are willing to pull up our mirrors today and look into them. How you livin? That was a Bernie Mac line, I think. I know folks that believe success is based upon all the stuff that they can get. Some acquire fortune and notoriety. Some have had fly girls and guys on their arms. Nice houses and cars.. Then, when you see them in the quiet time, they aren’t truly happy. They have to try to find something or someone to hopefully fix their itch. Yeah, they love their possessions but have no real peace or true joy. They have spent their entire lives trying to get and while getting they have given nothing out. Some of you have issues being in healthy relationships because you only know how to take and never gave in return. Because of that your potential relationships die before they flourish. Are you a dead sea? Some say they want a desk job with a suit on but refuse to get any type of training or education. They end up in what they call a dead end job.. The Dead Sea takes in water but none flows out of it. Because if this phenomenon, nothing can live in it. No fish, plant life, or birds… The water is no good either. We want God to constantly bless us and we refuse or forget to bless others as we are being blessed. I mean truly wanting to be a blessing. Not feeding the poor or clothing the hungry in order to be recognized for doing so. Folks crack me up when they want to support a cause but feel the need to broadcast that they did it out of the kindness of their hearts. I have received some of my biggest blessings from folks who chose to go unrecognized or unmentioned. So, I say this: Take a look at your life, your relationships, your finances, your ministry….. Is it living or are the waters standing still?<br><br>Proverbs 10: 4- <strong><em>says A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. A child who gathers in summer is prudent, but a child who sleeps in harvest brings shame</em></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/27263542014-03-11T11:36:14-05:002014-03-11T11:45:18-05:00Pay It Forward<span class="font_large"><strong>Hey Family, On here there are several who are grieving, sick, or just going through a rough time. I am wanting to reach out this morning to grab the attention of the one who says “today, I am doing well.” I encourage you to reach out to those who are hurting and in need of some kind of healing today. You have been there before and may be soon there again. Only God knows. Let me drop this on you. God didn’t bless us because we were better than someone else. He did it to equip us to comfort and encourage others. HIS hands become human hands when we use our hands to glorify him and carry out HIS purpose. That is all I am going to say on this. Please meditate on this scripture:<br><br>2 Corinthians 1:3-4 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,<br><br>4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.<br><br>You ready to Pay It Forward?</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/27261402014-03-11T11:06:37-05:002014-03-11T11:10:17-05:00Don't Get Hung out there!<span class="font_large"><strong>I was sitting here thinking of our present day generation in comparison to my great grandparents. My great grandparents weren't filthy rich. They worked hard in their youth. No big degrees on their walls. They lived a simple life. Had a little in the bank, nice little home, a decent yard, running automobile and they simply loved serving the Lord. Nothing sexy about their lifestyle at all if most of you looked upon it. I lived with them for 4 years. I was their adopted son, legally. I never needed anything while there and truly wanted for little. I never paid attention to how peaceful life was and how simple they kept it. I worked in their garden, helped plant and harvest. Learned how to cook what I liked, and spent a lot of time in church. My friends all came from common homes with strong family ties. We rode bikes together, played ball, fished, walked the malls and window shopped more than we shopped. We weren't all blinged out. I had maybe a silver chain, but did have my share of parachute pants and skinny ties. An 80's thing. (LOL) Yeah, we had big dreams and goals but most of them were for simple things. One of the things I wanted to do was sing.. I didn't care where. just sing. I look at some of the young folks that I see today. Heck, the grown folks of today. Simple isn't good enough. We are caught up in how much we make or the title which either comes before or after our names. It's all about the "benjamins". Some will sell their souls for the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"All Mighty Dollar"</span>. Some say <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"Get rich or die tryin." Some get rich and die after getting it.</span> I want to send a word out to the few that see nothing wrong with the simple life. With a common home. A car that gets you from A to B. Some of you are struggling to make it and you see so many who appear to be living "prosperously" while living so contrary to what God has placed before us. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">HEAR ME OUT!!!!!! </span>Just keep your eyes on the prize and your hands on your plow. Let me give you a few examples of why you really shouldn't get caught up in them. There was Haman, who prepared the gallows for Mordecai to be hang but in the end it was Haman who heard the death sentence "Hang Him On It!" Read Ester chapter 7. We think the lifestyle of the rich and famous is so sexy but let me remind you of a story about the rich man and Lazarus. I am sure that as one would look upon their earthly lives, no one would initially want to be in the shoes of Lazarus but I am sure that when you see their end, it would change some minds. (Luke Chapter 16). I want to encourage you to dream of success and strive for it. Just don't give up your soul for it. Don't get so caught up in temporary stuff. Enjoy each moment as it arrives.. See the whole picture. Stay true to the calling..This is a journey.. I have given you much to read today but here is my final scripture for this nugget. For those who choose to compromise in order to acquire money, notoriety and fame. Here is a scripture:<br><br>Proverbs 24:20 <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>"For there will be no prospect for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out" </em></span><br><br>In other words : <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out!</em></span></strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/26990352014-03-06T09:07:06-06:002014-03-06T09:08:51-06:00The Road to Conversion via confession<span class="font_large"><strong>I want to help someone today who is struggling to do the right thing and be right. I read that a life in Christ as Christians is like a glass mirror. We not only show and reflect the glory of God to the world but we also show the world its’ flawed image. We expose all the defects and attempts to hide the blemishes. That is why the scripture that I am going to share with you is so important today. We have to keep it real and humble ourselves by constantly confessing our sins to God and each other. This helps us renew our fellowship with Christ and show the world where our true identity lies. To live a repentant life before people is a huge and powerful witnessing tool. Everyone can see a fake anyway. Let me answer a few questions for you. Will you sin?... <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Yep! </span>Will you struggle at times with sin?... <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">YEP!</span> Will others see you out there.. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">You better believe it!</span> Folks are waiting to see you fall…. How you mess them up is through your apologies and confessions. This is the message of the Gospel.. I know that I am messing someone up right now, so let me get to the chase… Newsflash! People sin….. I sin… But…. I know a Savior! There is a Savior! I dare you to ask God to reveal any and all sin that you may be hiding in your life.. Confess it to HIM and pray for the strength to change.. If you owe someone an apology, do it now. It will take some God given courage to fix some of our messes… Let’s get it right.. Let this scripture be the one to lead to your cleansing, confession, and conversion: </strong><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em><strong>If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us</strong>.</em></span><br><br><strong>1 John 1:9</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/26851102014-03-04T09:28:17-06:002014-03-04T09:29:48-06:00Gather a Stone<strong><span class="font_large">Hey Family, I was reading Joshua 4 today and it told of the events of how God set up for Joshua to lead his people across the Jordan River. They crossed on dry ground. The Lord told Joshua to have representatives from the 12 tribes to collect a stone from the middle of the riverbed and set them up beyond the western shore of Gilgal, in order to serve as a reminder of the occurrences that day. They also stacked 12 stones in the riverbed before the river rose again. God did two things here. He established Joshua as leader and once again demonstrated to the people that HE was their ALMIGHTY GOD. Someone reading this has come upon an obstacle in life or a challenge. As God is making a way, gather a stone (grab a memory, a trinket, something to remind you of that moment) in order to remind yourself of how GOD delivered you and also how HE has established you as the “Real Deal” in HIM. Don’t waiver in your faith and don’t fret. If you trust and obey, HE WILL DO IT.. Go on… Pick up a stone… Read Joshua 4 and let it encourage you as you face your test.<br><br>Bless you!<br>Kai'</span></strong>5:56Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/25813652014-02-14T10:09:58-06:002014-02-14T10:10:45-06:00Valentines Day Nugget.. Sacrificial Love<strong>I tend to revert back to love in my nuggets because it is truly a commandment that WE ALL have struggled with. I am talking about a love that makes you sacrifice your very own being. Is this possible for you to accomplish this on your own? I don’t care what no church folks say…. The answer is NO! Jesus said to his disciples to love one another as HE has loved us. That is how the real disciples will be recognized. Not by how much you spit and slobber around the alter on Sundays or how good of a hoop line you have in your message. I know that hurt someone’s little feelings. Don’t blame me.. I didn’t write the book. The only way that we can truly love as Christ loves is that HE be in us. Just as HE remains in the Father’s love. This is not an option… Ya heard me? It is the Love of Christ which allows us to get rid of pride and self and truly love those who do not love us in return. This again, is what will define who the real disciples are. You don’t get to pick your sheep, Pastors.. Ministers, your job is to be a servant.. You don’t get to pick those that you are to serve. That is all orchestrated by God. If you aren’t truly loving folks, you cannot produce or shall I say reap real love in your lives. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice.. Could you? Not without Him being in you. Saying that, I don’t care what your title is. You can be the Grand Poobah. You are not a disciple of Christ without real sacrificial love being in you… Is you is? Or Is You Aint? HIS disciple… Here is today’s scripture: Chew slowly and taste it all… I message from my Valentine.. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.<br><br>John 15:10</strong>3:44Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/25750442014-02-13T11:51:39-06:002014-02-13T11:51:39-06:00Got Faith?<strong><span class="font_large">I was looking at Hebrews 11:1. You all know it. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. We look at it in such a shallow manner but that this is sooo much more deeper. Can I go there? Faith(<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">belief</span>) does incorporate our minds but faith is not limited by it. It transcends the limits of our thinking and incorporates the actions of a limitless God, which in turn gives us unlimited potential to do supernatural things in HIM, by Him and through HIM… Forget the milk…<br><br>Got Faith?</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/25750062014-02-13T11:46:47-06:002020-09-08T05:40:48-05:00A Prayer For Us!<span class="font_large"><strong>Hey Family,<br>I love looking through the blessings in the Bible. I love reading the prayers and often reiterate them to God on me and my families’ behalf. Here is one that I tailored for us today..I got it from 1 Kings Chapter 8.. Receive this according to your faith.. May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May we turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people according to each day's need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.. AMEN..<br><br>But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.</strong></span>5:07Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/24792102014-01-28T09:14:25-06:002014-01-28T16:02:24-06:00A Little of MYSELF<strong><span class="font_large">Today, I am not sending a biblical nugget. Just want to give a little of myself if that’s ok. I sat here looking over my life. I looked at the many mistakes I have made. The bad deeds that I have performed and I looked at my life at the present moment. GOD IS AWESOME!!!! Is there some things that I wish I had done better? Yes… I have made some real messes in this life of mine over the years...…. Yet, when I look at how God is blessing me, I am so overjoyed. I look at my kids… Regardless of what I do, they see the best in me… My wife has my back all the time… Even when I made moves without seeking God’s guidance. When the world comes crashing down on me, they are down there pushing against it and praying with me. I have their trust as the head of the household. I could sit and look for stuff around me that is wrong or not quite like I’d like them to be but when I take a good look at my surroundings, I see the thumbprint of GOD.. Someone who is using their precious limited time, looking at temporary stuff that really doesn’t matter anyway, I challenge you to take 3 days to simply discount the negative and count your blessings and then contact me and let me know how you are feeling after the 3 days are up…. It didn’t take me 3 hours to see that I am extremely blessed and for that I declare to my God that I am extremely grateful… Chew on that today…</span></strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/24791772014-01-28T09:10:32-06:002014-01-28T09:11:51-06:00WINTER IS HERE!<span class="font_large">This is for the one who is going through or about to face life’s winter season…I come to realize that often what the devil means to use to hurt you, God has a way of working it out for good. I once spoke of us being like seeds. We can either be annuals (only good for a particular time and have to be uprooted protected for a season.. Then replanted) or perennials (hardy and able to bloom when the time comes.. Able to withstand the harsh winter season without being moved.) In life folks are gonna throw dirt on you..They'll actually go at packing it on you. Then, they'll dump on you as well. I say, don't worry about it. If God planted you there, let them do whatever. Their dumping on you will only serve as fertilizer. We all have our critics.. Folks who prefer to attempt to judge you, your walk and your lifestyle while they are totally unaware of just how messed up they are. When you find yourself there... <strong>BE STILL</strong>.. AND know that <strong>God is God</strong>.. allow the process to go forth. Take root and grasp a hold to the <strong>ROCK</strong>. The process continues. After they dump on you, expect rain.. Rain causes your surroundings to feel soggy and uncomfortable. Sometimes, you'll feel like you will drown during this period but <strong>BE STILL</strong>. It still yet aids the process. After the rain, The <strong>SON</strong> will shine on you.. Then you'll grow to be a beautiful, hardy (strong) plant before God. We don't have to worry when folks plot against us. We don't have to act ugly when others act that way with us.. If God is for you, who can't truly be against you. In 2014, I refuse to be concerned about anything or anyone who attempts to smother me, to choke me out, or even dump on me. I'm standing still, with a smile on my face, I'm praying so much more than I did in 2013.. I'm singing so much more than I did. I'm preaching so much more than I did and <strong>NO ONE </strong>or <strong>NOTHING</strong> outside of <strong>GOD ALMIGHTY </strong>can prevent that. I received a WORD from God and it was to stop looking at my storms and start seeing <strong>GOD</strong> even more. Thought I'd share that with someone today.. Winter time is here. It can be a brutal season.. Will you live or will you die.. Me.. <strong>I am going to thrive</strong>…</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/19471382013-10-29T08:47:31-05:002013-10-29T08:47:31-05:00The Expiration dateI was looking at my cup of yogurt today. I wanted to check out and make sure
of the sale by date or expiration date and it made me think. I am going to a
home going service of a young lady today. I am sure that no one thought that
her date would come so soon. We can only hope that she was serving (pouring
herself out for the Lord) until her date arrived. I don't know when my
expiration date is but I need to be serving up to that very moment. So many
of us serve up to a certain point and feel that then comes a much deserved
retirement. Maybe because of being physically tired.. Tired of the way folks
are treating you.. You may feel that you have done enough to earn a
permanent rest period. I talk to my kids about how we train. It just makes
me so mad when I am training them and they stop or slow down before reaching
the finishing point of a drill or exercise. So many races have been won by
runners who refused to pull up before running through the finish line. I was
preaching to both of my girls about playing the game one possession at a
time but never letting up until the final buzzer has sounded off. We are
still working on that part. But we all are. In this race we like to take
breaks and vacations. I looked at the life of Paul and had to check myself.
I will get plenty of rest in God's arms. Until then, I have to serve until
the expiration date. Be a working vessel, flowing with living waters. No
longer shall we post the" Out of service" sign up. We are to run until we
reach HIS arms at the finish line. If you are reading this, your expiration
date has not been reached. Keep on worshipping. Keep on believing.. Keep on
praying. Keep on ministering. Through tests, trials, smiles, cries, the
questions why. Through heartache, pains, rejection, lies being spread on
you, friends forsaking you. Keep on pouring yourself out and letting HIM
refill you, over and over again. For 30 years, Paul served.Gave all he had
to give and even at that point he was willing to give more if God said so..
Let me remind you of some of his words.. "I am being poured out like a drink
offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." This is for the one
who says " I don't have time to serve. I am too busy trying to keep my head
above water, in this economy." I don't know what the average life expectancy
of man is these days but to be honest, even if we served 70 years, it's a
drop in the bucket in comparison to eternity. So let's stop acting like we
have reached our expiration date and are no longer good or needed. What if
Christ were to return today and find out that you have spent the last few
years with a false expiration date on? For the front line soldiers, we may
retire from a particular location but we can never leave the front lines..
Let's let God pick us up there. I am determined to show a freshness
sticker.. It aint over till God says it's over for me. Not letting up..
Bless you,
Rev. Bee
Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/18279842013-10-10T15:33:55-05:002013-10-10T15:33:55-05:00Stability in an unstable environment<strong><span class="font_large">I was sitting here today , once again looking at the unstable state of the world . I looked at life as a federal employee. I can recall a time in which everyone saw it as one of the most stable places to be. Then folks got furloughed…. Furlough ended… Then.. Government shutdown… I’ve seen the stock market crash… Friends lose their jobs after decades of service… Rumors of attacking Syria… Folks still being killed in Afghanistan… Yet another area soldier was brought home this week.. Family had no money… I see so much panic lately. I ask the Lord “Show me what it takes to be stable in such unstable times and in such an unstable world.” All I know to do is draw from the WORD.. Here we go Psalm 1….(NIV)<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>1. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2. but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.</em></span><br><br>Psalm 1:1-3. Can I expound? Vs1. An upright(stable) Man/woman walks opposite the worlds system and does not walk under the guidance of wicked people. In the fellowship of the saints they stand uncompromising. You won’t find them chilling in the seat of mockers.<br><br>Vs2. They have a deep passion for the word of God and they make sure that plenty of it is in their minds. This keeps them from being double minded. You all know what the Bible says about a double minded man.<br><br>Vs3. The upright is consistent. Like I tell my kids “the proof is in the pudding’. Folks can say what they want but evidence of stability is present. Storms only cause greater transformation. Stable folks won’t wither away. They recover from the bruises that life issues them. Finally God’s favor is confirmed in their lives. Eventually, whatever they lay their hands on, success and prosperity follows it.<br><br>You’re looking for stability?<br><br>1. Walk opposite of the wicked system of the world. Stop walking and sitting with the wicked. 2. Love and live by the WORD of God. Stay true to it regardless of what happens. Stop going in the direction of every strong wind and be ye steadfast. 3. Be consistent.. Why? God’s got you. Stay true to Him and watch Him blow your mind! I Pray that this nugget helps someone regain their footing. Nothing’s wrong with the rough side of the mountain. You can get your footing there. I wouldn’t be so attracted to the smooth side. In the elements, it becomes a slippery slope.<br><br>Bless you,<br><br> Kai<br><br>www.minkaibrown.com</span></strong>5:52Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/18081042013-10-08T09:22:56-05:002013-10-08T09:22:56-05:00Praise THE NAME<span class="font_large"><strong>Hey Family, I am in the midst of writing a song about God, his attributes and many names. In times of antiquity, folks used specific names for God according to what they needed HIM to come through as or how they saw HIM.. Regardless of the name, they praised Him for being God. In your prayers today and every day, do not fail to recognize HIM first… HE is worthy of that honor and praise… Know that HE hears your prayers and because of that, you ought to give thanks. Next, just keep it real… You are flawed.. You have messed up… Go on and confess your sins to HIM and acknowledge the fact that you are a temple of the living God… Strive to show more reverence to God and HIS holy name. As God to increase your desire and consciousness to show HIM reverence… I want to share this good news with someone needing this today… God’s eyes are always upon you and HIS heart is always for you... Read this: </strong><br><br><strong>The Lord said to him [Solomon]:<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"</span><em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."</span></em></strong> <strong>(1 Kings 9:3) Bless you</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/17833802013-10-04T09:48:51-05:002013-10-04T09:50:34-05:00What impresses you?<span class="font_large"><strong>Hey family,<br><br>I am still reading the words written by the Apostle Paul to the Church of Corinth in chapter 3. As I had mentioned earlier, the people were divided and focused more on the personalities of people rather than God. Paul continued to encourage them to shift their focus on the Lord Jesus Christ instead of his servants. I mentioned this in my nugget which came from chapter one. See how God tries to make sure that we get HIS point? HE knows about our short attention spans. To get the people’s attention, Paul broke it down like a rapper. He went to using metaphors. The first one uses was an agricultural metaphor, showing our roles in ministry but the ultimate piece is that God is the one who truly causes growth.( Refer to 1 Corinthians 3:5-8) Paul then switched it up and gave a metaphor from a architectural view. He informs us that as we build, if Christ isn’t our foundation, then we and our works will fail God’s quality tests. The final bit that I want to drop on you is that if the Holy Spirit dwells in us we should be smart enough to look for wisdom from God over being so easily impressed by people. Again, I know that this nugget will ruffle the feathers of those leaders who do their best to get their folks to see them as being seated at the right hand of the FATHER. If there be any good or great thing in me, I know that God did it. To God be the glory and I dare not attempt to stand in the way of any of you getting to HIM. We have to look at finding our identity, dignity, and worth in the Lord rather than the superficial things that we look to. Those things impress people.. Not God. I ask what does God see in you? Where is your identity found? Your organizations? Your clubs? Your jobs? Your money? Your Material stuff? Your colors? If that is all that you have to show for when you stand before God, let me inform you that it won’t be even close to being good enough.<br><br>1 Corinthians 3:5-22 ( I know it’s a lot but read it..)<br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.</em></span><br><br>I pray that you were fed by this nugget today...</strong></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/17763142013-10-03T11:27:19-05:002013-10-03T11:27:19-05:00God's Divine DoorHey Fam,
I was looking over some things in my life. How at times I have called myself
creating my own breaks. Moving and shaking. Sometimes I have in attempt to
get into an area of blessings, did it the wrong way or by the wrong
approach. Why? Because it was about me and getting mine or for mine. I came
to realize that All I have to do is be in Christ Jesus and HE will direct me
in a direction that I cannot top. HIS direction may take longer than I had
hoped but HE will surely put me in the place of abundance. We are always
looking for doors or opportunity. Nothing wrong with that. The issue is
which doors you use and the methods of entry. So many of us try to kick in
doors and take ours, others try to sneak in doors and steal ours, but if We
allow Christ to be our door we can walk upright through them and experience
true blessings. If you ever had to lie, deceive, cheat or steal for
something that you wanted, then you went about it the wrong way and God
won't truly bless your mess. Remember, what God has for you is for you.
Don't ruin it by thinking that you have to shake and jive to get yours. Not
saying that God won't have you fight for yours but HE'LL never have you
sacrifice your integrity. I have learned this the hard way, over the years.
Every door that I walk into these days, I always pray that Jesus is standing
there at the threshold. For those who have been walking upright and it seems
like the door is so far away or not opening fast enough for you. Feed on
this nugget:
Jesus said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and
will go in and out and find pasture....I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly." --JOHN 10:7, 9, NKJV
Bless you,
Rev. Brown
6:50Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/17670572013-10-02T10:26:16-05:002013-10-02T10:26:16-05:00Time to unify and depend on God's Wisdom<span class="font_large">I was reading 1 Corinthians and got today's nugget. No, I wasn't searching for a government shutdown nugget. This text was where I was led today. When you read the book it talks about the Apostle Paul's concern about people's false sense of pride and the division amongst the people because of them focusing on other people rather than the Lord <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>(refer to 1 Corinthians 1:1-17</em>). </span>Seems like a very on time message. We tend to look to the President too much. We put waay too much trust in him and the congressmen that we voted or didn't vote in. We look too much to spiritual leaders sometimes to the point where they really believe that you cannot get to God unless you go through them. The sun rises and sets on the pastor, prophet, evangelist, apostle ect. To some, they become mini-gods. Someone reading this will not like what I am saying because they are falling somewhere in this equation. Not my problem. This really sets us all up for failure. We then lean on their understanding and less on the true move of the Holy Spirit and the WORD of God. I have made that mistake before and was let down so hard that my faith was truly shaken. The wisdom of man/woman is not good enough. It is inadequate. Man cannot bring salvation, regardless of how they try to take credit for being God's instrument. Only the power and wisdom of God can bring salvation. <em><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(Refer to 1 Corinthians 1:18-31). </span></em><br><br><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(Today's prayer)</span> Father God, I know that every good and perfect gift comes from you and it is by your doing that we are in Christ Jesus. I look to you today to fix every malfunction in my life. I lean on your wisdom to fix our society. If I have any room to boast at all it is only in you. I put my total trust in you and only you.<strong> HAVE YOUR WAY TODAY AND FORVER MORE! LET THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. AMEN!</strong><br><br><em>10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." 1 Corinthians 1:10-18</em></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/10560472013-07-02T00:00:00-05:002013-10-04T09:53:13-05:00My King and your kings<strong>Hey Family,<br><br><br>Over the last two months I have seen tributes online and on TV to a few kings.. You have paid tribute to cash.. Look at the pictures that people take posing with it or the evil that they will do to possess it. Some say that cash is king. Elvis was recently plastered all over TV.Some call him the king of rock and roll. I am still seeing Michael Jackson all over FACEBOOK. He is the proclaimed king of pop.. Recently saw some tributes to James Cleveland. The king of gospel music. Rolling Stone Magazine crowned Eminem the king of hip hop. So many folks, whether they admit it or not, have and some still do bow to these kings but won't truly recognize "My" KING. Yes, lots of folks may feel dependent upon cash, your king.. And yes, your kings may have sold millions of records and cds, and folks literally fainted in their presence and will do the sickest of things to just be down with the king.. When earthly kings died, some folks felt as if a part of them died.. Yet, MY KING is thought about briefly during Easter in which he is to compete with a rabbit and Christmas in which he competes with a fat overgrown elf. Folks won't truly bow down HIM or recognize HIM.Even those who say that they believe in HIM.. They struggle to faithfully follow HIM..<br>Well let me say this, the almighty dollar has lost some of its' value..<br><br>Elvis has left the building.Newsflash.. HE aint coming back. Yes, they all did some amazing things but none of them can roll back the clouds, speak the elements and the elements behave. We have a lot of self proclaimed and world renowned kings but none of their thrones will measure up to "MY" KING. And believe it or not, there will come a day when even your kings will because they must, bow down to "MY' KING. Talking about the KING of KINGS...<br><br>Bless you,</strong>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/9727292013-06-19T06:38:56-05:002013-06-19T06:38:56-05:00Choosing Christ over your cause<b><span style="font-size: small">I was sitting humming one of my favorites, “Falling In Love With Jesus” and was reminded of a blues song which says if you love me like you say, why you do me like you do… So many of us think that because we fall in love with doing different areas of Christian service, that it means that we love Jesus. Not so. I was reading the scripture where Jesus asked Simon Peter, if he loved him. He said if you love me, feed my sheep. Devoting to Christ means that you love his sheep. Not just the ones that have shown you love. We think that because we love service it means we love HIM. IF you only love the service and not truly love Christ, burn out will eventually come and your true desire to serve will weaken. You may continue to serve but you will want to pick and choose who you serve. If you truly love Jesus, you can serve folks even when they treat you like dirt. So instead of being so devoted to your causes, try being more devoted to HIM. If you love him, you’ll love and feed HIS sheep unconditionally. It’ll pay off. See I won’t trip because I understand that even though they cut me down like wheat and consider me dead, I will produce a crop that will yet grow and change the world.<br><br>
Read John 12:24.. I think it will inspire someone<br><br>
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.<br><br>
Bless you,<br><br>
Rev. Bee<br></span></b>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/9405082013-06-14T05:03:26-05:002013-06-14T05:03:26-05:00You Can't Hide<span style="font-size: small">Hey Fam,<br><br><br>
On the way to work, I had something trigger my thinking today. This is for my young believers this morning but can also be served as a reminder to my older believers as well. I saw a young person this morning texting while driving.. As a police car pulled forward you could see them hiding their phone. The cop missed it. I began to think of the times that we do stuff and attempt to hide them or when we get so caught up in ourselves and situations and we don’t really care who sees us. Yet, we say that we fear God. If we truly fear God, we must understand that HE sees our every deed. Good and bad. Yes, the word that we use to describe that attribute in HIM is Omnipresent. God is everywhere. If we are to be true believers we should be seen with the characteristics of our Lord in us. Why do we wait till we get in church to want to put on our holiest depictions of who we are, when we are nowhere like that most of the time? Look, if we are trying to represent our Lord, folks ought to see love in us, honesty in us, patience in us, joy in us, maturity in us, law abiding citizens in us, peace loving people in us, selflessness in us, and integrity in us , to name a few. That is just a few things that you see in my Lord. We can’t put it on and take it off when we want and think that God does not see us. One day we must stand before a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS God.. One who will judge us accordingly… I will have no excuses for my misdoings and misrepresentations… I won’t be able to hide my evil deeds.. Can’t slide them under the dash or in a shout, sermon or song.. HE will be able to prove that HE was there all the time.. I want to encourage my young folks to live their lives as if God were sitting right there in their presence.. If not, our conduct, like texting while driving can prove to be wreckless and eventually deadly! Here and a couple of scriptures to just confirm the omnipresence of our God.<br><br><br><br>
Psalm 139:8 (Words of David)<br>
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.<br><br><br><br>
Jeremiah 23:23,24 (God says)<br>
Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.<br><br><br><br>
I Kings 8:27<br>
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?<br><br><br><br>
Bottom Line: There is no place that we go that God is not already there. <br><br><br>
Bless you,<br><br><br><br>
Rev. Bee</span><br><br>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/5021662013-04-10T07:38:33-05:002013-04-10T07:38:33-05:00In The Lab.. Are you passing or failing?<b><span style="font-size: small">I want to send this to the one who thinks that they are in the midst of a<br>
Big storm and is asking God the Big question of either "where are you?" or<br>
like the disciples asked, "do you care?" It may be because of the attacks of<br>
evil people or you have found yourself in a grave situation. I want to<br>
encourage you that the Lord is just taking you through another class in the<br>
school of faith. This is your time in the lab. In the midst of your<br>
learning, you have become so caught up in your storm that your faith is<br>
wavering.. The Test question that the Lord is asking you is the same one<br>
that he asked the disciples on the ship when they were crossing the Sea of<br>
Galilee. This is the Big Question.. Pass or fail. See, God has instructed<br>
you to move forward (Mark 4:35). To go to the other side of life to greater<br>
dimensions in HIM.. Greater peace.. Greater power. A Greater understanding<br>
of who HE is.. Who you are.. Yet because the storm is great, you have become<br>
paralyzed in fear. Some of you have responded by freezing up.. Others have<br>
chosen to respond in anger and ungodly ways.. Either way, you are stuck in<br>
the moment. You wonder if God can calm your storm or if HE even cares. You<br>
are currently failing my friend. Now He asks the question. Remember, this is<br>
the pass or fail question.. He is asking you "Do you believe in me?..... <br><br>
(Mark 4:40) And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye<br>
have no faith?<br></span></b>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/3712752013-03-14T11:55:21-05:002013-03-14T11:55:21-05:00No Fear!<b><span style="font-size: small">Have you ever allowed your mind to push you into a moment of panic or distress? Most of us have. I am amazed at what we allow our minds to do to us. Some of us have thought and talked ourselves out of some great blessings and opportunities. How many mothers are so quick to think something is wrong with their children just because things seem different in them? I am looking at this budget deal and the sequestration. All around me, I hear and see panic. People are freaking totally out. Not saying that we should be enjoying the moment but can anyone find peace in God at this time? I was looking at this stuff. If things continue in the direction that they are going, I am going to take a pay cut. They are looking at furloughing us for some time. The Department of Defense will send civilian workers home without pay for a few days. Do I want this? No…… Babies, need shoes… As I sat one day listening to folks around me talk, I witnessed the emotions around… Anger… Rage… Fear….Panic… I found myself remembering just how faithful God has been to me in my life. HE provided for me when I didn’t have.. He was my rock when I had no stability.. Protected me when I was exposed… At the moment when I started to go where everyone else was, I remembered God… I was Like “Lord, don’t let me go where all of these folks are going… Give me peace in knowing that I have you and you are my provider.. You own it all anyway..” Since that moment, I have found peace.. When those thoughts enter my mind, I go to the words of David… Let me leave them with some unsure soul this morning..<br><br>
Psalm 25:17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses..<br><br>
Start to see that your troubles and concerns are so small in the hands of a BIG God… Refuse to make a big deal out of them and find peace in being a child of GOD.<br><br>
Bless you,<br>
Rev. Bee<br></span></b>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/3499402013-03-07T06:49:13-06:002013-03-07T06:49:13-06:00The last nuggets of Ms MarieMar 6, 2013 @ 3:29 PM edit | delete <br><br>
Will you pay the price of holiness? When a deserter was brought to Alexander the Great, the general asked the soldier his name. "Alexander," came the trembling reply. The general roared: "Change your life or change your name!" Our Scripture continues, "If my people, who are called by my name . . ." The "name" of God denotes his personality, power, and presence. To be called by his "name" meant to be associated personally with him, in the same way a surname identifies a person with a particular family. There is no greater honor than to be included in the family of the King of Kings. Now our King invites us to join the movement of his Spirit in bringing awakening to the nations. As "Christians," we bear the name of our Messiah and Lord. To honor his name and join his movement, do you need to change your behavior? What step into holiness is your holy God calling you to take today? <br><br>
Ms Marie <br>
Kansas City, MO, US <br>
Member since<br>
Sep 14, 2012 Mar 4, 2013 @ 10:02 AM edit | delete <br><br>
Will you join the global movement of God? David Barrett's World Christian Encyclopedia states that 82,000 people are becoming Christians every day around the world, the largest number in Christian history. More Muslims have come to Christ in the last 15 years than in the previous 15 centuries, many after seeing visions and dreams of Jesus. Our Scripture continues, "If my people, who are called by my name . . ." A movement that began with a dozen men now encompasses more than two billion people, and is the fastest-growing religion in the world. Every believer is part of one faith family: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:26-29). There are more Christians in Africa than in America. Christianity is growing most quickly among people who don't look like Anglo-Americans. More than 82,000 people come to Christ every day, but only 6,000 are in Western Europe and North America, combined. What will you do today to help your church join this great awakening? <br><br>
Ms Marie <br>
Kansas City, MO, US <br>
Member since<br>
Sep 14, 2012 Mar 1, 2013 @ 9:10 AM edit | delete <br><br>
Friday March 1st Lenton Devotion Do you believe that God hears your prayers? When Alexander the Great died, his generals discovered that they had marched off their maps. They had no idea where they were. Their leader knew where he was going and how to get there, but they didn't. They were lost, with no idea what to do. Do you sometimes feel that way with God? Shakespeare spoke for us all, "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; words without thoughts never to heaven go." Does it some-times seem that your words ascend no further than the ceiling, that God has turned a deaf ear to your prayers? He has not. Your Father hears your every prayer, whether you have understood his answers yet or not. As we pray for awakening in our nation, be encouraged by God's response to Solomon's prayer of dedication: When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, the Lord appeared to him at night and said: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices" (2 Chronicles 7:11-12). Solomon was wise, to be sure, but he was still a fallen human. God heard his prayer, not because Solomon is more deserving than us, but because our Lord is gracious. As you pray for awakening, know that your Lord listens to your every cry and will answer in his perfect will. <br><br>
Ms Marie <br>
Kansas City, MO, US <br>
Member since<br>
Sep 14, 2012 Mar 1, 2013 @ 9:05 AM edit | delete <br><br>
March 1, 2013 Becoming More Fruitful Gwen Smith Today’s Truth “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 1:2, NIV). Friend to Friend On a family visit to the beach, our room had a balcony that overlooked the swimming pool. I sat on the balcony one morning and watched as a maintenance man for the resort approached a palm tree and pulled a brown, life-less branch from under the green leaves. Oddly, before he pulled the dead branch, I hadn’t even noticed it was there. After he pulled it, however, I noticed that the palm tree looked fresh and vibrant. Healthy. The pruning made such a difference! Jesus spoke to His disciples and said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, thatyou bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:1-8, NIV The maintenance man at the resort didn’t pull the branch off to hurt the palm tree. He pruned it to increase its beauty, health and vibrancy. God does the same for us. He prunes His children to increase our beauty, health and vibrancy for our good and for His glory - to make us more useful to Him and more fruitful. Are there any dead branches hanging on the tree of you? Let’s Pray Dear Lord, thank You for Your perfect love that longs for me to be fruitful and beautiful in You. Please remove any life-less branches in my life. As the psalmist prayed: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV). In Jesus Name, Amen. Now It’s Your Turn How fruitful is your life? Read John 15:1-17 and spend some time reflecting on God’s plan for you to become more fruitful. Click over to my Facebook page and tell me how today’s devotion spoke to your heart. What lessons are you learning? I’d love to hear about it. Visit me at www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic. More from the Girlfriends It seems kind of weird that we should want to go through the pain of pruning, doesn’t it? It reminds me a bit of the old workout saying, “No pain, no gain.” When you allow the Lord to expose dead branches in your life and to strip them away, a simple, radiant beauty remains. You become a more vibrant reflection of Him and become better equipped to bear fruit. Trust Him, friend...no matter what or whom He may call you to give up. Gwen has a new website filled with videos, posts, songs and resources that we believe will be a deep well of encouragement to you. Please swing by to visit: www.GwenSmith.net. (Get a FREE song download when you sign up for her newsletter!) <br><br>
Ms Marie <br>
Kansas City, MO, US <br>
Member since<br>
Sep 14, 2012 Feb 28, 2013 @ 9:40 AM edit | delete <br><br>
Did you deserve to live in the prosperity of your community and not the deprivation of North Korea? Did you deserve to hear the gospel, a privilege more than a third of the world has yet to experience? Did you deserve the physical abilities you enjoy? All people who come to God seek him for one of two reasons: either so he will help us or because he already has. Either so he will love us, or because he already does. Solomon and his nation concluded their week of temple dedication with gratitude for all God had done for them: So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel (2 Chronicles 7:8-10). God wants us to experience awakening no matter who we are. Have you thanked him for his grace today? <br><br>
Ms Marie <br>
Kansas City, MO, US <br>
Member since<br>
Sep 14, 2012 Feb 27, 2013 @ 1:55 PM edit | delete <br><br>
What price would you pay for awakening? Cash is going the way of the phone booth. Last year, currency accounted for an estimated 29 percent of U.S. retail payments, down from 36 percent a decade ago. For those who earn more than $60,000 a year, cash comprises just two percent of point-of-sale payments. Merchants are replacing cash registers with hand-held devices. Web-based retailers don't accept cash at all. Toll booths are fading on the highways. The next generation of adults has grown up with debit cards, prepaid cards, and iTunes accounts. Many don't know what "ATM" means. Convenience is the expectation of our day. A discerning Christian leader once said of his church, "We have all of Jesus we want. Not all we need, but all we want." By contrast, when Solomon and his nation completed their dedication of the temple, "the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats" (2 Chronicles 7:4-5). When last did it cost you something significant to serve Christ? Would you pray with passion and work with dedication for awakening? <br><br>
Ms Marie <br>
Kansas City, MO, US <br>
Member since<br>
Sep 14, 2012 Feb 26, 2013 @ 11:01 AM edit | delete <br><br>
Would you ask God to empower your worship? When I was a preacher in college, I once conducted a youth revival. During the fellowship after the service, we heard the sounds of nearby fire engines. To our shock, they stopped at the church. Someone had left a lit candle in the sanctuary, which set off a smoke detector and alerted the firemen. People came running from around the neighborhood to see what was happening. I thought of evangelist Charles Finney's pronouncement, "If the church is on fire, people will come from miles around to watch it burn." His words once came true, literally: When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever" (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). When last did you encounter God in worship so powerfully that your life was changed? Would you pray for such "fiery" worship for your congregation and soul during these weeks of preparation for awakening? <br>
Ms Marie <br>
Kansas City Mo Feb 25, 2013 @ 8:19 AM edit | delete <br><br>
Would you pray for your secular leaders? Nero was one of the cruelest emperors in Roman history, ordering the beheading of Paul and the crucifixion of Peter. And yet we find this statement from the Apostle Paul: I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4). He wanted God's people to pray for their emperor and other leaders, knowing that God wanted them and all people to come to salvation. Solomon offered a similar prayer for himself: "O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant" (2 Chronicles 6:42). "Your anointed one" was the king himself. He prayed that God would not "reject" him, despite his sins, but would bless and use his life and rule. Have you prayed today for spiritual awakening in Washington, D.C. and your community? Have you prayed for your president by name and for his advisors, for your governor, mayor, and city council? If they were to join the awakening, what would be the result for your community and country? <br><br>
Ms Marie <br>
Kansas City, MO, US <br>
Member since<br>
Sep 14, 2012 Feb 24, 2013 @ 9:00 AM edit | delete <br><br>
Would you pray for your spiritual leaders? The Apostle Paul was by any measure one of the most courageous and spiritual Christians in history. Yet he knew that he needed God's people to pray for him: "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should" (Colossians 4:2-4). Paul was not the first to emphasize such intercession. As King Solomon continued his prayers for the nation, he said to God: Now arise, O Lord God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice in your goodness (2 Chronicles 6:41). As he prayed for the "priests" of his day, the spiritual leaders of his nation, so we should pray for the "priests" of our day. Peter taught the "shepherds of God's flock" to serve "not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2-3). Would you take time today to pray for your minister and the spiritual leaders of our day? Ask God to help them depend on his Spirit and join the awakening of our day. We cannot lead further than we are willing to go, or give what we do not have. Pray for the spiritual leaders of your city to join the Great Awakening, to the glory of God. <br>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/3462842013-03-06T03:05:41-06:002013-03-06T03:05:41-06:00Believe<span style="font-size: medium">Bless you! Today is an exciting day for me and my family. Our daughter is<br>
going to compete in her first State basketball tournament in a few hours.<br>
They are facing the top seed in the tournament. I have been thinking about<br>
it seems forever. Our girls haven't won a title in 23 years. None of the<br>
outsiders even give them a shot. We will see. I BELIEVE... I was studying<br>
out of Joshua 5 and 6 this morning. A familiar text in which I have preached<br>
a few sermons. At the end of chapter 5, Joshua had a meeting with the<br>
captain of the army of the Lord. He was about to receive his instructions on<br>
how to conquer a mighty fortress by the name of Jericho. All of his<br>
instructions were not typical. The whole thing was unorthodoxed. Now, if<br>
you continue to follow Joshua and his future battles, you will see how he<br>
used great military tactics and schemes, but not in the first battle. The<br>
first battle was won strictly by faith and obedience. This set the<br>
precedence for Him to always be attentive to God's instructions and trust<br>
and believe in HIS leadership. He would not depend on his own strength and<br>
human skills. He would wait for God to always add "SUPER" to his "NATURAL"<br>
being (Thus giving them supernatural abilities). By doing so, Joshua and his<br>
people won some historic battles. Someone today is facing what seems to be a<br>
tough opponent. Some may say that you cannot win.. Trust and believe in the<br>
God who placed you where you are. I have this feeling that you are about to<br>
begin on a quest of a string of historic victories.. Regardless of how it<br>
feels or looks.. BELIEVE!<br><br>
Go on and read Joshua Chapters 5 and 6..<br><br>
Bless you.. Kai' <br></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/3011242013-02-06T00:00:00-06:002014-07-22T13:24:27-05:00WHY GOD MAY HAVE SAID "NO!"<span style="font-size: small;">Hey family,<br><br>Have you ever had associates who come across as being so self seeking? I have. There have been folks who I have known who aren’t genuine in their friendship. They always have a what can I get out of this attitude. I knew a pastor who stopped picking up lesser fortunate members on Sundays because he couldn’t see what they could do for him. Now that was an extreme example but we all probably know folks who smile in your face, use you for what you have or could do and if they had the chance would bury you in order to get ahead. Ever been thrown under the bus by a “friend”? So many of us approach God in the same manner. Our prayers and motives for what we are paying for are so self seeking. Then when God says no we want to say that HE isn’t real or doesn’t care for us. Throwing a tantrum like a five year old in a grocery store, when Mommy won’t get him a lollipop. We need to focusing on trying to live more seeking the will of God. If in HIS will we will ask for the right stuff and HE will be more than willing to grant those desires. Don’t trip because this isn’t easy because our nature is a selfish one.<br>Let’s be willing to allow God to take us through the process of living right for HIM. And guess what? The process will lasts until HE calls us home. For the one belly aching because God hasn’t granted you what you asked for in a selfish prayer, read this:<br><br>James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.<br>Nuff said…<br><br>Bless you!<br><br>Rev. Bee</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2958452013-02-01T07:50:39-06:002013-02-01T07:50:39-06:00We All Must Suffer<b><span style="font-size: small">I want to talk on the topic of suffering today. None of us want to do it but let’s face it; we all experience it from time to time. I read Peters words today and want to share them with you. You can either suffer doing good or you can suffer doing bad. Either way, you will have to suffer some times. Some of our sufferings come from our rebellious deeds while others come naturally. Especially, because we choose to walk with the Lord. You know the world despises HIS followers. I will say this about my sufferings… They have done such things as educate me, made me stronger, pushed me along my way, and given me insight. I may have not liked them but they were mine. Your sufferings will come whether you are doing right or not.. You may be able to possibly avoid some sufferings by doing nothing at all. Before you get all excited about that option let me paint this picture. Think of the creatures that are birthed through cocoons. They are not intended to stay in there forever. The process for them is a combination of rest, struggle, healing, maturing and transformation. All the while becoming more beautiful. If the insect does not go through the full process, when the cocoon breaks, it will be too weak to fly. Saying this, let your suffering be the source of your emergence. Let it transform you into something strong and beautiful. It will give you a share of the inheritance of Christ and better prepares you to minister to others with clout.<br><br>
Chew on this: For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil 1 Peter 3:17<br><br>
Bless You,<br><br>
Kai<br></span></b>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2921982013-01-29T05:24:14-06:002013-01-29T05:24:14-06:00How to Receive Healing without the theatrics<span style="font-size: small">Hey Family,<br><br>
This is for someone reading this today that is in need of healing. I know you have some preachers who ask you to turn a back flip, speak a foreign language and slobber like a rabid dog in order to receive healing. Let me attempt to simplify it as much as I can, without all of the unnecessary theatrics. When I flip the pages of “my” Bible, I saw Jesus heal the paralyzed, a woman with chronic internal bleeding, two blind men, the demon possessed, and the mute and even restore life to the dead. He performed duties of a physical therapist, a gynecologist, ophthalmologist, and even a psychiatrist. Someone needs to know that HE IS A MASTER PHYSICIAN…. Someone struggling, should be shouting right now… Just to know that they have access to such a professional… For Him to perform his medical procedures, he didn’t require so many crazy antics that some in the church require of you today… The only thing that the sick needs to display is faith and humility. You don’t need to be a member of a certain church or denomination, a membership card to some “prestigious organization”, don’t need an insurance card to be seen, or be able to do the splits. Just faith and humility.. Ask the woman with the issue of blood. She had faith and showed humility. She knew that she needed Jesus! We need to believe that God will heal us and admit that we need healing. I mean be desperate for it. Be willing to press through some stuff to get it. Be willing to allow God to make you an example of HIS healing power… Regardless of how people see you.. Be desperate and willing to press through. Have faith regardless that If you can only get to HIM, healing WILL TAKE place.. If your pressing through requires you to do something like asking others to pray for you, repenting of sin, changing your lifestyle, or seeking out the care of a specialist, do that. Don’t place limits on the ways that God can answer your prayers and heal you.<br>
Regardless of your situation, God specializes in it. <br>
Feast on this today: Matthew 9:35-36<br>
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.<br><br>
Now… Be healed!<br><br>
Bless you,<br>
Rev. Bee<br><br></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2878512013-01-24T05:17:34-06:002013-01-24T05:17:34-06:00Avoiding Spiritual Infection and Disease<b><span style="font-size: small">I was reading my WORD this morning and it so hit “ME’.. I am hoping that this is for someone reading this. It is funny how something that is good and beneficial to some can be bad for you. You hear stories of folks that live to be 100 and they say the only thing that they’ve done is smoke a cigar all of their lives. Well we all know that smoking is supposed to shorten your life. Let me use a better example of two. Penicillin has been used to kill disease and bacteria for years, but when given to my son when he was younger, it caused and allergic reaction. One that that if continued could have possibly killed him. We all hear of the benefits of eating peanuts. Well, my oldest daughter, if exposed could possibly die. It causes her airways to close. There are things in this life that we, for the sake of being fruitful, and successful must just stay away from. There are things that are no good for you but were designed to make you feel good. Then there are other things that have value to some but are deadly to you. So many folks die from overdoses of prescription drug use and abuse daily. Some things we just cannot be exposed to. We often see some of them as small things but I have come to realize and concur with the scripture which tells us that the small foxes spoil the vine. Speaking of me… There are places that I cannot go, things that I cannot do, people that I cannot expose myself to because they all could prove to be deadly.. Deadly to my ministry, my family, and even my soul. Now these things may serve others well but like the old song says, “what God has for me, it is for me.” I’ve had to learn that when I try to force issues that aren’t God ordained, I cause a reaction or reactions.. They tend to be very unhealthy and if not fixed or avoided, deadly. I look at my ministry. I know that God has many for me to reach, but I must first learn to be faithful over the few that HE has placed in my path. Every time I attempt to go faster than HE, I cause a terrible reaction. I set myself up for some failure. There are things that I am not supposed to be exposed to. When I do so, it affects not only me, but everyone in my close circle. Being a “man”, when God sends someone my way to tell me that my way was the wrong way, I’ve often rebelled, only to deal with the same reaction that I so much hated the last time. I was drawn to the end of Matthew 5. It was breaking down how you can have everything in order but if one part of you is out of sync of line, it can prove deadly. When you come upon such a thing, it is best not to nurse it… This is a about survival. You must CUT IT OFF!... I envision a plane crash victim, who survives the crash but is trapped under some large piece of the plane. HE must chose to cut off his arm with a knife or die where he lies.. The survival instincts kick in and he cuts away. Some of us need to cut away some of our attitudes, some of our ways and methods, cut off some of our associations, and stop going to some of the places we used to go. You can be going for the right reasons but if the environment is not geared for you, then you need to leave. I’ve come to terms that so many times I had been moving waay faster than God. I wasn’t mature enough for some of the situations that I found myself in. My methods weren’t GOD’s methods. I looked at the life of a deacon last year. Snuffed away because he tried to do this his way and not how God wanted him to do things. I cannot let that be me. Though I know what God has for me, I’ve decided to go at HIS pace and use HIS methods… To the one reading this… I am talking about survival… There are so places that you aren’t mature enough to be, some places that you weren’t meant to be, and some places where others can thrive and you’ll find famish. Find out where God wants you.. If you are in it for the right reasons and things are going wrong, then you need to seek GOD and most likely kick rocks and avoid what could be a deadly reaction. Cut it OFF, Be set Apart, don’t ignore the small foxes.. Get em out of there….<br><br>
We are called out to be different and do different. Let’s step looking into what seems to be the “Current Way” of doing things and trust God’s Way. We are to just let HIM place us and once where HE places us.. We are to change this world.. If you are getting this… Say this and mean it.. “Lord, not my way but your way..” Here is a scripture to feed on:<br><br><span style="color: #ff0000">13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. <br>
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.<br><br></span>Matthew 5:13-16<br><br><br><span style="color: #ff0000">29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.<br><br></span><br><br>
Bless you,<br><br>
Kai'<br></span></b><br><br><br>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2862882013-01-22T10:26:08-06:002013-01-22T10:26:08-06:00A Stacked Deck!<span style="font-size: small">I rarely ever give nuggets out according to what I am going through or experiencing at the time. I have had folks email me that question. I tend to wait on God to direct me to a scripture and then go from there. Have you ever gone through a period in which it seems as if someone is trying to stack the deck against you? Maybe it seems as if folks are trying to marginalize you or negate who you are in Christ. Ever felt like someone was trying to flex on you? If that is you, I want to just share some of my history with God. In the years that I have been serving, I have had folks go all out to try to discredit me and the ministry that God has given me. Try to minimize the ministry of my family. Use their positions or titles in order to try to seemingly bully me. Place in me in a position in order to embarrass me. I have even had leaders without warning attempt to put me on the spot in front of folks and say, “Today’s speaker, has just arrived.” These are the instances where God stepped in and gave me a WORD that no one could ignore. I have had folks try to shut me down and God would send me to another state or country to minister to HIS people. I recall getting an email from a guy who I never met, asking me to minister at a praise and worship conference in Florida. He was like, I don’t know you, do not particularly listen to your style of music but am led to ask you to minister at this conference. Here I am thinking that this is some small town thing and when I arrived at the airport, there were escorts and folks there to take care of me. I had a nice spot by the beach. At the conference, I was ministering with preachers that I watched on television. One night at dinner as I am trying to feed on every word that they were saying, I spoke aloud when I actually meant to speak to myself. I asked myself, “What am I doing here, with all of these powerful speakers?” One of the preachers who heard me leaned over and said “What God qualifies, no man can disqualify.. God knows who you are and He knows how ready you are.” The preachers all turned and looked at me. They assured me that my days of being pushed, tested and tempted were only beginning. There will always be those who think that their man given authority will stand up next to God’s authority over my life and ministry. Their efforts will always be futile. The scent that God placed on me would be more than they could handle. I stand on the words that one said to me that night.” Regardless of how the enemy tries to stack the deck against you, you will always be holding the winning hand.” To the one reading this who is feeling that way or going through anything like it, I will end this nugget like this… You can bank on it… Stand on it.. And Count on it… With God on your side, you will never face any opposition strong enough to minimize your calling.. The stage that you are standing on, is a prep for the arena that you are headed to.. The hand that you have been dealt by God, is a sure winner.. Feast on these words with me and laugh at the efforts of the opposition because they are soooo clueless.<br><br>
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?<br><br><br><br>
Bless you,<br><br>
Kai<br></span><br>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2836922013-01-18T08:16:33-06:002013-01-18T08:16:33-06:00What God Has 4 MeI am a guy who simply loves competition. Growing up, I have always loved to compete. In my house, we are all so competitive that a simple game of monopoly, could start a fight. I mean folks will lose sleep over losing.. LOL… Now let me go this way today. I have learned to not worry what people say about me or mine. I have learned to not be watching to see who is plotting or planning to set me or my folks up for failure. I was just saying to a friend that I don’t find it necessary to jump through certain hoops that others do or to worry about certain things in ministry because I truly believe that what God has for me is truly mine if I want it. I look at preachers competing for members.. I look at Christian artists competing with secular artists to the point where God’s spirit becomes invisible in their works. All we have to do is do what God says.. It doesn’t matter if folks are plotting against you on the job, in the community or in school. Do as God is leading you. I tell folks that I don’t worry about the tests that my kids face because God has set them up in a manner that they always end up on their feet. I shared with my wife over the years when folks tried to back door her at work to not focus so much on them but to continue to seek God and HE always took care of her. I don’t feel the need to take anything away from you. I truly trust that what God has for me is more than enough.. More than what I could ask or think of. I just need to do as HE says do. Let me lay a couple of scriptures on your plate today for you to munch on. Some of you don’t really want to hear what I have to say so I trust that you trust the Word of God. This is where I see myself and mine… This is where you have to start seeing yourself. Psalm 16:5-6 says.. LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.. <br>
In other words, What God has for me is truly for me… God has already set your blessings aside. More than enough… TRUST THAT! Just do the work of the Lord and you will receive the fruit of your labor and some… As for you folks who constantly are looking into someone elses yard and trying to sip from their cup, I want you to know that when you spend your time worroying about what others are doing, plotting or what they have, you are just confirming your lack of faith in God…<br><br>
Eat some more… "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. . . The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you" (Deut 28:1-8).<br>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2809642013-01-15T04:56:24-06:002013-01-15T04:56:24-06:00Time for YOUR COMEBACK!!!<span style="font-size: small">I know that this is a long one but I advise you to slowly read this. It may just be for you...<br><br>
I was thinking of my son today.. So proud of him.( I will say that today and want to knock him out tonight..LOL) He is back in school, looking to finish his degree in Engineering and take a couple of management courses. Over the years he has squandered some opportunities, allowed his focus to go in the wrong direction and temporarily taken breaks from doing the things that he was supposed to be doing as a student, an athlete, and a Christian man. His actions lately have shown me that he is ready and willing to make a COMEBACK…. I AM SO EXCITED AND PROUD. This past weekend he sat in a youth retreat that we ministered at. He was engaged and focused. He still is a clown but I know he was locked in. He made a resolution between him and God at that retreat. As he reads this nugget today, I want him to know that I am SO PROUD of him. I looked at my daughter’s basketball team at the high school. It has been a while since they had their glory days… They too seem to be on the COMEBACK trail. Something special about this team is the number of girls who profess Christ… They pray together, encourage one another in Christ. My daughter and few of them meet before school for a daily devotional. The Coach had scripture placed on one of their T-shirts (I imagine some folks didn’t like that..) The girls team hasn’t beaten a conference foe in 2 years or more. So far, this year they have beaten 2 out of 3. Folks are excited because they can sense a COMEBACK! Now my daughter, Alicia. She is a new freshman and on the Varsity basketball team. New coach… New system.. A new level of thinking and new challenges. She has been forced to look at her weaknesses and work on them. She struggled mentally with all of the above.. She now has embraced it all and now we can see a COMEBACK taking place. She is beginning to play the ball that she is capable of playing. We are excited because It is only the beginning. She knows that they have seen nothing yet. We talked about it and she has a new excitement about it all, where once she was struggling. I and my family had stepped away from quite a few ministry opportunities because of one excuse or another. Lately as we have been going out in ministry, it has been so rewarding. God has been smiling upon us and the feeling of this COMEBACK has been amazing. We have decided to go through every door that God has presented us and do as HE says.. To those who have missed us.. We’re BAAAACK! I want to reach out to someone who may feel like they let a great opportunity slip away. Maybe been struggling with change to the point that they stopped producing the goods that they know they are capable of producing. Maybe you feel like you missed out on a great ministry opportunity or job opportunity. Maybe you feel as if you blew a chance at a great relationship. You may have said that you wanted to be a better person in Christ because in all honesty, you had too many self inflicted flaws. Nasty attitude.. Judgmental.. Hateful…ect. Now is your time for a COMEBACK…. It will take dedication and resolve.. Don’t try to avoid your weaknesses.. Work on them… Look for God given opportunities and pursue them all out. I want to share this scripture with my family as well as whoever is in need of this WORD today. The Lord says to us in Revelation 3:8 the words that HE spoke to the church at Philadelphia. <b>"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” </b>The believers in Philadelphia ran into so many obstacles and had many weaknesses but they never walked away from opportunities that God presented them and they never stopped working to strengthen their weaknesses.. They didn’t want to miss a blessing or bypass any of God’s open doors. They knew that they were special and didn’t take that lightly. They knew that serving God was a gift and because of that God blessed them greatly.( Read Rev. 3:12). For someone reading this, it is time for your COMEBACK! Begin to carefully look for the open doors that God is trying to show you. Without question, go through. Going through may require you to drop your attitudes and egos. To say, I apologize or to show love to someone who you consider hard or impossible to even like. You may have to work harder than you have ever worked in your life. Do things in a manner that you never have done before. Let go of some friends who are no good for you at the time. Tell a stranger that Jesus loves them and is a savior… Saying all of this…. Are you really ready to make your COMEBACK?<br></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2862872013-01-13T23:48:44-06:002013-01-13T23:48:44-06:00A stacked deck!<span style="font-size: medium">I rarely ever give nuggets out according to what I am going through or experiencing at the time. I have had folks email me that question. I tend to wait on God to direct me to a scripture and then go from there. Have you ever gone through a period in which it seems as if someone is trying to stack the deck against you? Maybe it seems as if folks are trying to marginalize you or negate who you are in Christ. Ever felt like someone was trying to flex on you? If that is you, I want to just share some of my history with God. In the years that I have been serving, I have had folks go all out to try to discredit me and the ministry that God has given me. Try to minimize the ministry of my family. Use their positions or titles in order to try to seemingly bully me. Place in me in a position in order to embarrass me. I have even had leaders without warning attempt to put me on the spot in front of folks and say, “Today’s speaker, has just arrived.” These are the instances where God stepped in and gave me a WORD that no one could ignore. I have had folks try to shut me down and God would send me to another state or country to minister to HIS people. I recall getting an email from a guy who I never met, asking me to minister at a praise and worship conference in Florida. He was like, I don’t know you, do not particularly listen to your style of music but am led to ask you to minister at this conference. Here I am thinking that this is some small town thing and when I arrived at the airport, there were escorts and folks there to take care of me. I had a nice spot by the beach. At the conference, I was ministering with preachers that I watched on television. One night at dinner as I am trying to feed on every word that they were saying, I spoke aloud when I actually meant to speak to myself. I asked myself, “What am I doing here, with all of these powerful speakers?” One of the preachers who heard me leaned over and said “What God qualifies, no man can disqualify.. God knows who you are and He knows how ready you are.” The preachers all turned and looked at me. They assured me that my days of being pushed, tested and tempted were only beginning. There will always be those who think that their man given authority will stand up next to God’s authority over my life and ministry. Their efforts will always be futile. The scent that God placed on me would be more than they could handle. I stand on the words that one said to me that night.” Regardless of how the enemy tries to stack the deck against you, you will always be holding the winning hand.” To the one reading this who is feeling that way or going through anything like it, I will end this nugget like this… You can bank on it… Stand on it.. And Count on it… With God on your side, you will never face any opposition strong enough to minimize your calling.. The stage that you are standing on, is a prep for the arena that you are headed to.. The hand that you have been dealt by God, is a sure winner.. Feast on these words with me and laugh at the efforts of the opposition because they are soooo clueless.<br><br>
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?<br><br><br><br>
Bless you,<br><br>
Kai<br><br></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2780722013-01-10T08:00:05-06:002013-01-10T08:00:05-06:00Don't Die In Winter<span style="font-size: small">This is a nugget that I have written previously. Just seems so fitting due<br>
to the volume of calls, emails, and text messages that I have been getting<br>
from folks that I know, who have been going thru harsh times. I hope this<br>
feeds you today.<br><br>
I want to encourage someone who seems to be in a season of constant storm or<br>
cold. We all know that to everything there is a season. The thing that you<br>
must do is not let your season kill you. I read a book entitled "Don't Die<br>
In Winter". It was based off of Galatians 6:9. I have been getting a lot of<br>
prayer requests from believers who are in what seems to be their winter. I<br>
want to encourage you all to keep living the life of a Saint. We must be<br>
mindful to prepare for all seasons. A farmer normally goes through the<br>
seasons of planting and then harvest time. The food that is harvested keeps<br>
the family fed throughout the barren seasons. He may not always have a<br>
bountiful harvest, so he carefully plans how to ration the harvest that was<br>
reaped. For those who are in the winter season of your life, keep chewing on<br>
the Word of God. It will sustain you.. Stand on HIS promises.. You can make<br>
it. It may not feel good but will work for good. If your winter season<br>
hasn't arrived, plan on being prepared so when it arrives, you will survive.<br>
Only those who don't prepare for the winter, die. Keep on loving folks..<br>
Even when they are cold and nasty to you. Know that your character is being<br>
built and fortified in every tear that you've shed because of someone doing<br>
you wrong. The tears will aid in the growing process. All of the good that<br>
you have sown in your life will be watered by those tears and will<br>
eventually be enormous blessings. Just don't let the season kill you!<br><br><br><b>LISTEN.. YOU WERE CONDITIONED FOR THIS SEASON. YOU ARE A SURVIVOR.. YOU CAN<br>
SURVIVE..ADDICTION..BETRAYAL..DIVORCE..MISTREATMENT..PERSECUTION..LIES..SCAN<br>
DALS.SICKNESS..ABANDONMENT. JUST DON'T ROLL OVER AND DIE... CHEW ON HIS<br>
WORD.. DIGEST HIS PROMISES..<br>
HIS PROMISES TO KEEP YOU. AND GIVE YOU A FUTURE... DON'T DIE IN YOUR<br>
WINTER..<br></b></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2772152013-01-09T02:51:13-06:002013-01-09T02:51:13-06:00Overcoming Suicidal and Murderous Tendencies<span style="font-size: small">I have been seeing a lot of murder-suicides and suicides lately…. Made me think and pray. I want to share some stuff with you that has been revealed to me. So many of us have had or still have murderous or suicidal tendencies. Those of us who don’t are only one step away. Some of you are saying that you love yourself too much to kill yourself. Well, let me get at you here. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death and yet we sin daily. Sounds suicidal to me. To inflict such stuff on ourselves… How many of us have done or said things that either killed someone’s spirit, their relationships, their family, their chances of promotion, or advancement? Sounds like murder to me. I over the years have had to walk away from places, people and things which proved to be deadly to my spiritual life, my marriage, my family and my peace. It took prayer, being honest with myself and a desire to simply LIVE… Wasn’t always easy.. I had relapses from time to time but I realized that I needed God’s help and had to make conscious decisions to listen, obey and never think that I had anything whipped on my own. Look, I have an uncle who I am very close to. I used to brag and tell people that he is an “EX”-drug addict. He had to correct me. He said, “Neph, though I have been clean and sober for a while now, I AM an addict. I cannot go around drugs or the places that sell drugs. I won’t take narcotics for pain when I go to the dentist. I know me..” What he has done is closed the gap between he and God, placed himself around folks who will encourage him and not expose him to drugs. In my life I had to cut people off, certain behaviors off, and not be so naïve and think that “I am good.” I realized that I was showing suicidal behavior by ignoring the dangers around me and entertaining such relationships and behaviors. I had to realize that being the priest of my home, I was showing murderous behaviors by not protecting my family.. I made a sound decision to lean on God and do what I need to at all costs. I am helping someone today.. Not sure who you are. Now let me take you a step further. NEVER think that the enemy will go on vacation. He is crafty. He will throw your past in your face. Do it in a sneaky way. He will test your resolve over and over again. He wants you to act out of character or give in to the pressures of him showing up. He will constantly remind you of your past and recent failures. As I look over some of the recent suicides, people got caught up in their current situation or a recent failure which presented itself as too much or gave them a feeling of low self esteem or unworthiness. This is when we must go to God’s WORD… Here are a few:<br><br><b>James 4:7 </b>Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you<br><br><b>Jeremiah 15:11</b> The LORD said, "Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress<br><br><b>Jeremiah 15:19</b> Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.<br><br><br>
Instead of allowing negative thoughts and ideas to enter your mind, try trusting God and thinking on these things. This will kill any negative thoughts and ideas that you may have.<br><br><b>Philippians 4:8</b> Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.<br></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2761672013-01-07T07:09:52-06:002020-06-25T04:12:07-05:00On Which Foundation Do You Stand?Hey Family,<br>
I am going to piggyback on the message that my Pastor put out on yesterday. He dealt with trusting God. So many of us believe that God is God. That HE can do all things.. That HE is all wise, all powerful and everywhere. Yet, so many of us are not seated on the solid foundation when trouble arises in our lives. When it comes to our health, our money, our relationships and YES, our kids…. We want to feel that we are in total control of it all and when we see that we aren’t, trusting God is one of the last things that we choose to do. Whether you want to admit it or not, your college degrees, your muscle bound bodies, your sharp tongue, or your good looks will not hide the fact that you are resting upon sinking sand, without real trust in God. You may find that when problems arise, you feel like you are so far from God. That is because your lack of trust has created such a distance that you either cannot hear HIM or you do not want to. Yes, you have trust issues. You give a great shout on Sundays that all is lining up for you but you act out of character or go to the woe is me corner when true tests arise. God is a convenience or cute term for you at times. Why not try truly trusting HIM.. This is a part of the basics of any strong relationship.. TRUST.. Do you really think that you are more dependable? Do you think that your man or woman is more dependable.. Your actions speak louder than your words… Some of us have Skyscraper dreams and talents but they can’t survive being built on nothing but sand…. You can trust God with your health, your relationships, your money, your talents, your heart and YES your family.. Trust HIM… Learn what His will is for your life. Stop creating so much distance between you and HIM with your trust issues…. Where do I go? I GO TO THE ROCK… Anyone remember that old school song with the timeless message?<br><br>
Matthew 7: 24-29<br>
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house ; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house ; and it fell -and great was its fall." 28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching ; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.<br>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/678532013-01-03T10:37:18-06:002013-01-03T10:37:18-06:00God Sees<span style="font-size: small"><b>I want to go straight to the pure in heart. I want to encourage those who are earnestly trying to do this thing the right way. Those who choose God’s way over their way. You may be struggling. I know you are seeing those who choose to ignore what is right and do what has been convenient. Those who seem to be prospering and on easy street. Every day is one day closer to pay day. You just keep putting in the work. I had a guy recently who works with me. He was with me when I had done a job. Everything was done and over with. I was tired and just happy that it was a success. This guy was going home for the day and something made him get out of his car to say a word to me. I know he felt kinda weird because he doesn’t really know me. He has been on the job for less than a month. He walked in the office and he says to me, “ Look, I know folks aren’t running up to you in gratitude or going all out to let you know how great of a job that you had done with this last job that you completed but God sees you and HE has an awesome reward in store for you. You showed that you cared about people and you went above and beyond to take care of them.. Trust this… God’s got you..” I was like …. O..K… thanks. He then left and went home. I want to tell someone reading this that God sees you.. Your time is coming… It is actually around the corner.. Don’t grow weary in doing it the right way. Don’t even focus on those who seem to be doing so well, that chose to do it the wrong way.. Their true pay day is coming as well. I shared with a family member that if she chooses to make the tough choices and do things the right way, then God will give her the best results.. I won’t beat this horse any longer.. Here is a verse that confirms my nugget..<br><br>
Psalm 1:6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish<br><br></b></span><br>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2630422012-12-07T04:07:41-06:002012-12-07T04:07:41-06:00When You Find yourself Abandoned<span style="font-size: medium">I want to encourage someone today who may be feeling left out there or feeling abandoned. I know that feeling of putting your trust and confidence in people and when you need them the most they dipped on you. You know those folks who told you that they had your back.. The one who said that they’d love you till the end of the earth. The one who called you his dawg or the girl who said she was your chick.. Well, you know where I’m going with this.. Paul called out a time when those who was supposed to have his back, they dipped on him. They didn’t just not stand with him in “ride or die” mode, they walked out on him.. Anyone ever been there before? Well Paul didn’t trip because in him being abandoned, God gave him a testimony. He didn’t even get mad at Kats for leaving… He learned that when no one else will stick it out with him, when no one else would stand with him, The Lord will and do it with the quickness! Then Paul later stated that the Lord gave him strength.. Not just any strength. He used the Greek term endunamoo which meant that he was empowered with a great inner strength. TNT strength.. See God will come and make you dynamic in such times if you continue to stand. God not only strengthened Paul but he did so with Timothy as well. He will do the same for you.. You may be feeling abandoned, and forsaken by those who you thought would stick it out.. They left but don’t trip.. God needed them to leave room for HIM to stand by your side… Not sure why I am going this way but I will continue.. Someone going through a tough sickness who may be reading this… Those who promised to be with you through this thing that you are facing.. They left you. May have even used the excuse that they cannot bare watching you suffer any longer.. Or they just flat out lied about being true to you… It doesn’t matter.. Don’t let it sour you.. God needed that room to be with you and to give you that endunamoo… That “TNT” type of strength.. He needed room to provide you comfort and show you what REAL love is… Just call on HIM to stand by your side.. HE won’t dip on you.. For the one who was left holding the emotional baggage from the one who said they loved you more than life itself and they left… God will occupy that space for you and do it well…. Just call on HIM.</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2630412012-12-07T04:05:55-06:002012-12-07T04:05:55-06:00We Purify... Not Pollute<br><span style="font-size: small">I was watching a Touched by an Angel episode the other night and it was<br>
teaching about how a negative or bad attitude has the ability to wreck a<br>
community. It was a powerful message! I went to work and almost fell for the<br>
same trick of the enemy, the very next day. Early this morning, I was led to<br>
a familiar scripture and it has truly ministered to me. It created yet a new<br>
fire inside of me. I recalled the book of Numbers. Do you remember when<br>
Moses sent out the 12 spies to Canaan to get a look at the Promised Land?<br>
10 of the 12 spies came back with negative reports. This attitude was picked<br>
up and accepted by over a million other Israelites. They were so negative<br>
that they wanted to stone the two spies who came back with positive reports<br>
and attitudes. The bad attitude of the 10 spies caused God to unleash HIS<br>
wrath upon them and the millions of unbelievers. Let me put out a strong<br>
word this morning. Don't pick up any bad attitudes. They are extremely<br>
contagious.. They are extremely deadly. Stay away from negative people and<br>
negative thoughts.. When folks try to fill your head with negative or angry<br>
thoughts, resist by all means necessary. I shared with my daughter Alicia,<br>
that receiving messages from folks is like eating fish. You have to slowly<br>
go through it. Remove the bones and eat the meat of conversations. If she<br>
were to get caught up in the bony stuff, she could find herself choking and<br>
dying. I am attempting to teach my kids that godly people are not negative<br>
but serve as purifiers. They have healthy attitudes.. Not gloom and doom<br>
people at all. That is because they realize that God has the final say in<br>
everything and HE always has our best interest in mind. We cannot get<br>
caught up in negative thoughts, words and feelings.. And when receiving<br>
reports, we know better than receiving the negative ones.. People with<br>
negative attitudes point you to disaster.. Their words are deceiving. Now<br>
folks with positive attitudes (the purifiers) have the ability to be in a<br>
rotten atmosphere and make everything around them better.. Purifiers have<br>
the ability to take in the toxic things that negative people (let me call<br>
them polluters) say and filter them before they respond or pass along to<br>
others. Positive people (Purifiers) may go into a dark situation or place,<br>
but when they leave, that atmosphere becomes fresh and clean. Polluters<br>
receive what they put out. doom and gloom (read Numbers 14:36-37). Purifiers<br>
inherit blessings (Read Numbers 14:24). Listen, if we are who God has called<br>
us to be, people will leave our presence feeling better.. They will want to<br>
be around us. The scent that attracts blessings will be present wherever we<br>
go. So.... Ask yourself.. Am I a Purifier or a Polluter.. Talent, skill,<br>
and experience isn't contagious.. Folks just can't quickly pass them on.<br>
But attitude is contagious! What are you passing along?<br><br>
When you have time.. Read Numbers 13 and 14. Please remember that negativity<br>
and a bad attitude, kills..<br><br>
Bless you,<br><br>
Kai'</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2612022012-12-04T05:50:44-06:002012-12-04T05:50:44-06:00REAL FOLKS<span style="font-size: small">Hey Family,<br><br>
I know it's been a minute. Been a little under the weather and the plate remains full. I want to talk on the subject of surrounding yourselves with "REAL" friends and family.. I had a conversation with a family member of mine. She had a few things twisted in her life. She had been surrounding herself around folks who said that they loved her and had her back. They even did an occasional deed to prove their love and devotion but when you looked at the big picture, they weren't "REAL". They encouraged her to do wrong and immoral things and never loved her enough to back off and let her truly grown in the Lord. They would only tell her when she did them wrong but not encourage her to live a Christ-like lifestyle. Today, I am so grateful for the few "REAL" folks in my life. Those who encourage me to do the right thing and who love me enough to call me out before I go too far in the wrong direction. Those who have prayed for and with me. Those who are there not for selfish gain but just because they love "Bee". To the reader today, evaluate the ones who you say you love or who have told you that love you. They may call you friend, Bruh, Sis, Bae, Boo, whatever.. What type of godly influence do they have in your life. Do they encourage you to do wrong or is it ok for them to treat you wrong? Will they love you enough to call you out, and point you in the right direction? Do they send words of encouragement when you need them most? If they are the toxic one in your life, are they willing to walk away for you to be all that God created you to be? When you act out of character, do they think it's cute and encourage you to do even more? That is as long as you aren't being that way towards them. I again found myself reading David's words today and they made me look at those who have truly been "REAL" friends and family.. You know who you are. I love you.. You not only encourage me when I am doing right, you call me out when I am doing wrong.. I want you to know that I need you and appreciate you.<br><br>
Here is what I read today:<br><br>
Psalm 141:5<br>
Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.<br><br>
Bless you,<br><br>
Rev. Bee<br></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2538602012-11-19T08:07:34-06:002012-11-19T08:07:34-06:00Nothing To Prove<span style="font-size: small"><b>I want to help someone today. This is for those who have felt the need to justify themselves to folks who have tried to pass judgment on them because of who they are in the Lord. I have heard so many times of folks saying, “He is supposed to be a preacher..” or “They are supposed to be Christians.” You know how when others are jacked up, they try to marginalize you… Well I was reading Job and I got out of the text that we don’t need to prove ourselves to anyone. We need to stop worrying about what others think or have to say. To be honest you wouldn’t have to worry about what folks truly thought about you if you really knew actually how rarely they thought of you.. God is omniscient.. Not us.. Yes, it is HIS Holy Spirit which gives us the occasional ability to share nuggets of wisdom and encouragement. I often tell my kids that if God were to remove HIS hand for us for an instant, we’d be nothing in an instant. I am not going to lie and say that I’ve mastered the Bible like some would say. I won’t say that I know it all. As a matter of fact the more that I get to know God, the more that I realize that I know so little. Stop trying to prove yourself to folks.. Stay bowed down in the presence of the all wise God and know that right in that place you have nothing to prove but so very much to gain.. I really hope that this nugget ministers to someone.. I go to it often.. Every time someone tries to size me or my family up, my natural instinct is to want to come out swinging but I don’t have to.. I kneel before HIM and while kneeling I am victorious. Feast on this scripture:<br><br>
Job 42:2-3 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.<br>
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.<br></b></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/550192012-11-14T06:11:17-06:002012-11-14T06:11:17-06:00Rejoice<b><span style="font-size: small">This short nugget is for my people who have allowed folks to ruin their day and their mood. You have given them authority that they did not earn. How can we allow someone to ruin our day when they didn’t give us the day in the first place? Psalm 118:24… So many of you have quoted it but have refused to live it… David put it out there like this: “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Now…. SMILE… GOD gave you this day as a gift… Thank Him by enjoying it to the fullest! REJOICE!</span></b>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2506802012-11-13T05:02:12-06:002012-11-13T05:02:12-06:00God Did It!<span style="font-size: small"><b>How many of us have looked back over our lives and broken out in a sweat when we see a situation or time period that we didn’t see a way out of? I was sharing with a friend of the times that God reminded me that I needed HIM.. I was being faced with situations that were too hard for me alone.. I was faced with tests that I could not pass alone.. BUT GOD! He stepped in every time.. HE make this weak vessel strong! HE carried the load for me when needed. His Spirit spoke guidance to me… I often look back and say “ Only God did it!” That is how I made it through.. As I read David words this morning, my eyes welled with tears, as I looked took a glance back.. Didn’t have to go waay back either.. Can you relate to these words?<br><br>
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.<br></b></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2477812012-11-07T06:02:41-06:002012-11-07T06:02:41-06:00God is not a flakeI want to reach out today and give a message to those of us who are so driven based upon current situation. I have seen folks who have tended to be supporters or “FAM” and when a crisis arises or things didn’t go as they thought, they attempted to discredit me or say stuff about my wife to try and demonize her. I used to get so upset at these things because in an instant people changed on us. It used to make me want to either lash out or stop serving. You can say what you want but we all have feelings and we want to be loved and accepted. I really had to pray to be one who serves through tough times and not just when folks are pouring flowers on you. Some of us are “Super Saints” and “Super Servants” as long as things tend to be moving in our favor. We talk about how awesome God is and how faithful HE is to us when it’s all gravy. Then in our journeys come turbulence. Dark clouds rise and strong winds blow and we then get so caught up in the circumstance that we no longer can hear from the Lord. At that point faith is strained, and we tend to stop seeking God and HIS guidance at that point. Not proclaiming HIS goodness or favor then… Because we never got into HIS word or really took interest in really knowing HIM we find ourselves here over and over again. Well, let me give a newsflash and it comes out of the book of Malachi. It is a word of encouragement. Unlike some folks we know, God isn’t a flake. He isn’t a temporary fan, trying to get all that HE can out of you for a particular season. He is a proven solid, immovable ROCK! If we can only stay focused on HIM and trusting in HIM, our lives wouldn’t be so off course as they are or tend to get at times. He said these words.. “ I the Lord do not Change.” In other words, “ I will not flake on you or leave you out there.” We really need to get to know HIM as our Good Shepherd. We should develop stronger and deeper ties with HIM during times of struggle and pain. Someone going through a dark period needs to know that this period will not destroy you.. God is still God.. Stop making decisions on How you feel and start letting God lead… Unlike the one who let you down or left you hanging. The one who had a change in heart… God said it… HE WON”T CHANGE!<br><br>
I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. - Malachi 3:6<br><br>
Bless you,<br><br>
Kai'Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2452412012-11-02T06:45:00-05:002014-07-22T13:27:08-05:00God Will Fill The Void<span style="font-size: small;">Hey Family,<br><br>I was in the Old Testament today and came across a scripture that I want to share with those of you who may be feeling like you are lacking something. Especially those who are not feeling spiritually full. I want to share something that should add some excitement to your day. I needed this and it came right on time. I was looking at the times when I was feeling that I didn’t have everything that I needed to do ministry or take care of my family or even myself. I can recall having ministry events set up and things started to appear to fall apart. One thing would happen after the other. Pieces that I considered critical to an event happening and because things didn’t go as I saw it should, I began to be concerned. I actually almost went there today and the Word of God reminded me that God simply loves to fill places where there appears to be a void. The Bible says that the world was void and without form and GOD spoke and the universe was filled.. He took the dust of the earth, looked at it after forming it.. It was void of life and God breathed into the clay and man became a living soul. So many of us were living foul.. Headed to hell.. Void of HIS precious HOLY SPIRIT…. Then HE moved upon us and now we are new creations.. God specializes in this.. Saying that, if you have a void in your life… Know that God WILL fill it.. This scripture shook my very core this morning.. Thought that I would share it..<br><br>Numbers 14:21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD<br><br><br>Bless you,<br><br>Kai'</span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2387112012-10-23T07:46:08-05:002012-10-23T07:46:08-05:00Surviving The Winter...<span style="font-size: small"><b>This is for the one who is going through or about to face life’s winter season…<br>
I come to realize that often what the devil means to use to hurt you, God has a way of working it out for good.<br>
I once spoke of us being like seeds. We can either be annuals (only<br>
good for a particular time and have to be uprooted protected for a season.. <br>
Then replanted) or perennials (hardy and able to bloom when the time comes.. <br>
Able to withstand the harsh winter season without being moved.) In life folks are gonna throw dirt on you.. <br>
They'll actually go at packing it on you. Then, they'll dump on you as well. I say,<br>
don't worry about it. If God planted you there, let them do whatever. <span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1351014336399_941"></span><br>
Their dumping on you will only serve as fertilizer. We all have our critics.. Folks who prefer to attempt<br>
to judge you, your walk and your lifestyle while they are totally unaware of<br>
just how messed up they are. When you find yourself there... BE STILL.. AND<br>
know that God is God.. allow the process to go forth. Take root and grasp<br>
a hold to the ROCK. The process continues. After they dump on you, expect<br>
rain.. Rain causes your surroundings to feel soggy and uncomfortable.<br>
Sometimes, you'll feel like you will drown during this period but BE<br>
STILL. It still yet aids the process. After the rain, The SON will shine on<br>
you.. Then you'll grow to be a beautiful, hardy (strong) plant before God. We<br>
don't have to worry when folks plot against us. We don't have to act ugly<br>
when others act that way with us.. If God is for you, who can't truly be<br>
against you. In 2013, I refuse to be concerned about anything or anyone who<br>
attempts to smother me, to choke me out, or even dump on me. I'm standing<br>
still, with a smile on my face, I'm praying so much more than I did in<br>
2012.. I'm singing so much more than I did. I'm preaching so much more than<br>
I did and NO ONE or NOTHING outside of GOD ALMIGHTY can prevent that. I<br>
received a WORD from God and it was to stop looking at my storms and start<br>
seeing GOD even more. Thought I'd share that with someone today.. Winter time is coming.<br>
It can be a brutal season.. Will you live or will you die.. Me.. I am going to thrive…<br></b></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2387072012-10-23T07:35:40-05:002012-10-23T07:35:40-05:00What Are You Waiting For?<span style="font-size: small">I was in the book of Revelations, chapter 3 and it made me revisit a song that I've written called "Let HIM In". It is my baby Alyche’s favorite song. This nugget is for someone who is struggling today and you are so paralyzed by your situation that you lay there hurt and lonely. Overwhelmed in your circumstances? Maybe you are the one who has not TRULY given your life to HIM. You've done what the church says do to the letter but you haven't given yourself to HIM... I have good news for both parties.... Chew this nugget. Jesus has been waiting on you your whole life. He has been waiting to fix your situation but you have totally shut HIM out. You've refused to totally open yourself up to all that he has for you. He knows exactly what you are going through. Exactly how you feel. God will answer your prayers but you must go through HIS son... Have you been locked up because of hurt?.. Let HIM in.. Tired of being toyed with by that word they use called love? Want to receive REAL LOVE? Let Him In.. He says behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with HIM and HE with me.. Rev. 3:20... Tell me.. What are you waiting for??.. Go on... Let HIM in..<br><br></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2305102012-10-11T07:03:16-05:002022-04-16T05:03:06-05:00Pleasure verus Joy<b><span style="font-size: small">I was looking at the comparison of two things today… I want this to be thought provoking. I am expecting yall to go to my blog page and talk this one up. I am going to talk on the comparison of what I call Jesus Joy and pleasure. So many people get joy and pleasure twisted when there is a difference. Joy is a supernatural thing and pleasure is superficial.. You with me? Ok.. Look over the things that have given you pleasure over the years… Where they constant? Did the source of your pleasures change? I used to find pleasure in video games once upon a time, After a while it got old. I’ve had relationships that gave me pleasure.. They didn’t last. The one thing that has been a constant for me is the joy that I have from God. I also have had some things that gave me pleasure that became excess. I got too much of it.. Too much of the chocolate chips.. Too many crab legs.. You know eating so much that you got sick from them .. To the point that the sight of them made you sick… Some of you would say that you had too much of a girl or guy that the site of them made you sick.. That is because they were strictly a pleasure and not a joy. (LOL) It could be because they changed or you changed but the joy that God gives never changes because HE never changes.. I hear that song <i><span style="color: #ff0000">“Jesus the same, yesterday, today, forevermore…..” </span>(<span style="color: #ff0000"> </span>By the way that is scripture.. Look in Hebrews..)</i>The more I sing it something bubbles up on the inside of me because I truly can relate to the joy that I have.. God did it! My praise has a purpose!… I’m talking a life of bliss.. Someone reading this needs to exchange some of their pleasures for some REAL JOY…</span></b>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2297412012-10-10T06:19:58-05:002012-10-10T06:19:58-05:00Keep it Moving<b><span style="font-size: small">Just was in contact with a young man that I consider family. He was hurt by a young lady. REALLY BAD. Received some crushing news that I am not at liberty to share. Just want to talk to the young men this morning. I am also sure that some young ladies can get something out of this as well. So many times you are labeled dogs and unable to truly love. I know better. I know lots of you. You aren’...t as a rare breed as some would like to say. No one is perfect.. When you come across a bad situation.. Even when you put your all into it and it didn’t work out, with a clear conscience, LET IT GO… KEEP IT MOVING. God has something so special for you. Don’t stay in that place of pain, around the source of your pain… Keep it moving!!! Don’t let disappointments ruin you or contaminate your seed. Grudges are toxic. I dare you to simply (I know you may be struggling with this) Let go and trust God. What HE has for you is definitely yours and not someone elses. He expects you to learn from this and not crumble and die from it. The hurt you feel is simply growing pains.. Rid yourself from any bitterness and prepare for sweeter days. Here is a nugget that I wrote some time back.. <br>
For the one who is struggling with bitterness or a grudge. Maybe you have been feeling just fed up. Let it go and move on. The one who you may be feeling bitter towards is still living their life. They may be jacked up, done you wrong and may even be basking in it. This is for you. Leviticus 19:18 says Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. It takes a lot to hold on to a grudge or bitterness. I know that firsthand. It leaves little or no room for you to bless other folks, give God praise and simply enjoy the life you are living. Gotta let it go and pray earnestly for those who work your nerves, try to play you and try your patience. If you can't do it because it is the right thing to do, then you have to do it because you know God. Don't allow silly people and crazy circumstances to keep you stuck in the mud. Don’t let what has happened shift your focus from wanting greatness.. It’s a trick to stop you.. Keep it movin’!</span></b>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2249282012-10-03T07:40:00-05:002012-10-03T07:40:00-05:00Avoiding Infection and Disease<b>Hey Fam,<br><br>
I was reading my WORD this morning and it so hit “ME’.. I am hoping that this is for someone reading this. It is funny how something that is good and beneficial to some can be bad for you. You hear stories of folks that live to be 100 and they say the only thing that they’ve done is smoke a cigar all of their lives. Well we all know that smoking is supposed to shorten your life. Let me use a better example of two. Penicillin has been used to kill disease and bacteria for years, but when given to my son when he was younger, it caused and allergic reaction. One that that if continued could have possibly killed him. We all hear of the benefits of eating peanuts. Well, my oldest daughter, if exposed could possibly die. It causes her airways to close. There are things in this life that we, for the sake of being fruitful, and successful must just stay away from. There are things that are no good for you but were designed to make you feel good. Then there are other things that have value to some but are deadly to you. So many folks die from overdoses of prescription drug use and abuse daily. Some things we just cannot be exposed to. We often see some of them as small things but I have come to realize and concur with the scripture which tells us that the small foxes spoil the vine. Speaking of me… There are places that I cannot go, things that I cannot do, people that I cannot expose myself to because they all could prove to be deadly.. Deadly to my ministry, my family, and even my soul. Now these things may serve others well but like the old song says, “what God has for me, it is for me.” I’ve had to learn that when I try to force issues that aren’t God ordained, I cause a reaction or reactions.. They tend to be very unhealthy and if not fixed or avoided, deadly. I look at my ministry. I know that God has many for me to reach, but I must first learn to be faithful over the few that HE has placed in my path. Every time I attempt to go faster than HE, I cause a terrible reaction. I set myself up for some failure. There are things that I am not supposed to be exposed to. When I do so, it affects not only me, but everyone in my close circle. Being a “man”, when God sends someone my way to tell me that my way was the wrong way, I’ve often rebelled, only to deal with the same reaction that I so much hated the last time. I was drawn to the end of Matthew 5. It was breaking down how you can have everything in order but if one part of you is out of sync of line, it can prove deadly. When you come upon such a thing, it is best not to nurse it… This is a about survival. You must CUT IT OFF!... I envision a plane crash victim, who survives the crash but is trapped under some large piece of the plane. HE must chose to cut off his arm with a knife or die where he lies.. The survival instincts kick in and he cuts away. Some of us need to cut away some of our attitudes, some of our ways and methods, cut off some of our associations, and stop going to some of the places we used to go. You can be going for the right reasons but if the environment is not geared for you, then you need to leave. I’ve come to terms that so many times I had been moving waay faster than God. I wasn’t mature enough for some of the situations that I found myself in. My methods weren’t GOD’s methods. I looked at the life of a deacon last year. Snuffed away because he tried to do this his way and not how God wanted him to do things. I cannot let that be me. Though I know what God has for me, I’ve decided to go at HIS pace and use HIS methods… To the one reading this… I am talking about survival… There are so places that you aren’t mature enough to be, some places that you weren’t meant to be, and some places where others can thrive and you’ll find famish. Find out where God wants you.. If you are in it for the right reasons and things are going wrong, then you need to seek GOD and most likely kick rocks and avoid what could be a deadly reaction. Cut it OFF, Be set Apart, don’t ignore the small foxes.. Get em out of there….<br><br>
We are called out to be different and do different. Let’s step looking into what seems to be the “Current Way” of doing things and trust God’s Way. We are to just let HIM place us and once where HE places us.. We are to change this world.. If you are getting this… Say this and mean it.. “Lord, not my way but your way..” Here is a scripture to feed on:<br><br><br><span style="color: #ff0000"><i>13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. <br>
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.<br></i></span>Matthew 5:13-16<br><br><br><span style="color: #ff0000"><i>29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell</i></span><i>.<br><br></i>Matthew 5:29-30<br></b>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2239972012-10-02T07:20:24-05:002012-10-02T07:20:24-05:00Making The Right Choices<span style="font-size: small"><b>Today’s nugget is about making choices. My son and I have been talking a lot lately about making the right choices. What he is learning is it is not always so easy making the right choices. So many times choices are influenced by emotion.. Most of the time when we allow our emotions to guide our choices, regret is soon to follow. Someone reading this today is being faced with making a choice or certain choices. You have tried to avoid making them or have considered taking the “easy” way out, even though the “easy way” is the wrong way. You question or doubt that you are strong enough to make that right decision. Well let me shed some light on this for us.. You notice that I said us? Yep! The lord stands by to help us in our decision making. We just often leave HIM out. That’s why we jack things up so often. God wants what is best for us. Always has our best interest in mind. Look at the choice or choices that you need to make at this moment.. Before you move, invite the Lord to lead you and grasp unto HIM… Close your eyes as to say,” I trust you this much.. Where you lead, I will follow.. No matter how uncomfortable the journey may initially seem.” I like the way David put it in Psalms 37 verse 5.<br><br>
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass”..<br>
In another interpretation it says, Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:<br></b></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2229112012-10-01T04:05:05-05:002012-10-01T04:05:05-05:00Dealing With CriticsI want to give a word of encouragement to the one who feels marginalized or criticized. You did nothing wrong yet, someone went all out to make you feel unwelcomed, or persecuted. Don’t worry. We will always find folks who want to find fault in us and criticize when we don’t apparently fit into their mold. I have struggled with that over the years. I often asked the Lord why when I all I wanted to do is be a blessing or to do well. That is just the nature of some folks.. They criticize or they just cannot be content. They don’t want to do the work but they do want to tell you how to do it and what you are doing wrong. If they don’t approach you then they gather a lynch mob to get it done. I am so thankful for the WORD of God. Through reading it, I have learned that HE is there for me. My lord understands what it is like to be mistreated and criticized for no real reason. To have folks flake on you for selfish reasons. Christ went to the cross under such circumstances. Just look to the Lord! Let’s face it, when we are trying to do right, it is hard to continue when it seems folks are fault finding. My prayer for you is that you have the “I’m rubber, you’re glue” mentality and to press on. God knows….. Just ask HIM to strengthen you. He will do it!<br><br>
Psalm 119:78<br><br>
Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts<br>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2216142012-09-28T10:05:11-05:002012-09-28T10:05:11-05:00Being a Rebel<span style="font-size: small"><b>I was looking at a scripture about being rebellious. For so long folks have taken pride for being rebellious. Don’t want to respect the laws of the land and never want to follow leadership. We see this in the church as well. People don’t want to stay in line with God and HIS WORD. Folks want to criticize the choir, the Pastor, the sermon and so on. A word of advice if I could give it. Why not just go to church and enter into worship and experience worship and let the WORD of God sit in the judgment seat for all of us. Being submissive to GOD ordained authority shows that you have faith. You are trusting that GOD has your best interest in mind and HE will protect you. If we allow God to lead us, HE won’t lead us into temptation and HE will deliver us from the evil one. So let’s stop saying “I am going to do me or my thing” and start being willing to follow God’s ‘ lead. Funny thing is when we step out of line and get hit with things we have the nerve to blame God.. If you want to be a Rebel, go against what the world does. Read your Bibles more. The world isn’t doing that. Pray fervently and a lot. The world isn’t doing that. Love your neighbor.. The world is full of haters.. If you just have to be a rebel, do it the right way…..<br><br>
1 Samuel 15:23 <br><br>
Rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry<br></b></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2206692012-09-27T04:15:06-05:002012-09-27T04:15:06-05:00Coming Out!<span style="font-size: small"><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>That’s right. I threw my hands up! I gave in. Some said I’ve sold out. I’ve exposed myself. I admitted that I am jacked up. Lord, I’ve surrendered all to you. Then I came out unlike before. Souled out. Now I can do all things.. No shame in my game. Take a good look at me now! I’ve a real reason to shout, dance and sing. YOU have taken something ugly and are in the process of making it beautiful. I’m lovin’ it!? They are hatin’ it..</b></span></span><span style="color: #ff0000"></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2190772012-09-24T09:00:53-05:002012-09-24T09:00:53-05:00GO!<span style="font-size: small"><b>Hey Family,<br><br><br><br>
I was revisiting Matthew 28 and reading the great commission and started to think of all of the times I failed at doing my part. I prayed for God to open the doors for me to share the message and from time to time unconsciously walked away from them. We all have. You can even see it in the Bible where folk got caught up in self and didn’t share God’s message. Jonah did it.. So many times in churches, people allow situations and goings on either put out their fire or kill their enthusiasm for being a witness. I know the "Super Saints" reading this has never been there but I won't lie and say that is me. I had to sit still for a minute. Refocus on the CALL. I had to not pass up on any opportunities that God has placed before me to share HIS word. If on a street corner, a basketball game, the airplane... I have been commissioned to be a witness to God's GREATNESS. I recently was presented with the opportunity to minister in the prison system, locally. The phone is ringing from folks wanting a witness in other states as well. Just to have the opportunity humbles me. I have walked away from overseas opportunities to minister. Hadn't gone out and ministered in song or anything.. Just passing up so many times to be a witness. To the one reading this, who has allowed stuff to limit you or smother your ministry.. Enough is enough. Souls are at stake. Though the Holy Spirit is the one who changes hearts, we play a big part in the process. God allows us to be a difference in the eternal lives of others if we will allow ourselves to be used. Just by being a witness for Christ, we can touch a neighbor or work mate. We should be witnessing to our kids and train them in the ways of the Lord. Tell folks why we have peace in times of storms… Stop worrying about being so politically correct. What God has qualified or ordained, no one can disqualify. Don’t worry about the logistical portion of ministry. The WORD said seek ye first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness and all these things will be given to you.. That seems to cover the logistics… that kills all of the excuses.. Let’s no longer get so caught up in our earthly concerns that we neglect our kingdom duties.. The word that hit me this morning as God has been placing so many ministry opportunities in front of me was the first word that I read today in the scripture and that word was “GO”.. I want to share that with someone who has been procrastinating or worrying… “GO”… You have been qualified and commissioned ….. GO!<br><br><br><br>
Matthew 28: 19-20<br><br>
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:<br><br>
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.<br><br><br><br>
I pray that this nourishes someone this morning..<br><br><br><br>
Blessings,<br><br><br><br>
Kai'</b></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2173632012-09-20T10:23:18-05:002012-09-20T10:23:18-05:00Protecting the Gift till the proper date<span style="font-size: small"><b>I am trusting that today is the day that I am supposed to send a message out to my youth. On three occasions, I came across messages in reference young people and their purity.. I often tell my young men when it comes to their girlfriends that it is illegal to drive without a proper license. Of course so many have violated that law but there are some out there. One of my people had a song that she entitled, “No free samples.” Still so many disregarded the message. I talk to girls who go to college and come home regretting that they gave in the pressures of their peers or was so hungry for attention. I was talking to my daughter who is a freshman this year. She mentioned the awkwardness of not knowing a lot of people yet. I mentioned that kids spend too much time and energy on wanting popularity and a lot of “friends”. Girls want to be popular with the fellas and guys want to be popular with the girls.. I reiterated to her that there is some attention that they should not be too much in a hurry to get. I talked to a friend who as a kid was standing on his head to find out what a particular gift was that he was getting on Christmas. He sneaked and found out what it was. Initially he was glad to see but when Christmas day arrived, it took all of the excitement out of his day because he already knew what the big box contained. Ladies and gentleman, save the package for the proper date of opening.. So many of you are willing to do whatever in order for extra attention.. There is even a price to pay for this sin.. Saying that, if you truly love yourself, what is the price that you place on your innocence?<br>
I really hope that this message reaches someone before they allow the gift to be opened prematurely.<br></b></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2166002012-09-19T06:45:00-05:002021-03-09T23:51:42-06:00The Realness of God<span style="font-size: small"><b>Have you ever been living life and the realness of who God is hits you<br>
like," BAM!"? At that moment you receive a fresh charge. A new energy.. You<br>
feel like you can take on the world for a little while longer.. The change<br>
that you feel reaches your very core. Your relationship with the Lord<br>
becomes deeper.. What a feeling.. Someone reading this may have forgotten<br>
that feeling.. You let life and situations cloud your memory. My prayer for<br>
you today is that The reality of the Lord and HIS greatness, comes<br>
bumrushing you today. That it creates in you a new praise, a new standard<br>
of living. A deeper relationship in Christ with you that you'd get to know<br>
HIM better and be fit to fight and live this life with REAL joy! Was<br>
reading Psalm 113. David had a moment like that and he wrote a psalm of<br>
great praise because of the revelation of the great God he served. <br><br>
Check it out.<br>
Psalm 113<br>
Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of<br>
the LORD.<br>
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.<br>
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name<br>
is to be praised.<br>
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.<br>
5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,<br>
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the<br>
earth!<br>
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the<br>
dunghill;<br>
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.<br>
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of<br>
children. Praise ye the LORD.<br><br>
It is my prayer that you experience such an encounter today. That you will<br>
have a new fire ignited within you to go all out for God!<br><br>
Bless you,<br></b></span>Minister Kai Browntag:minkaibrown.com,2005:Post/2165952012-09-19T06:40:00-05:002012-09-19T06:40:00-05:00Lion Tactics<b><span style="font-size: small">I read a familiar scripture today.. Short and sweet Yet, The revelation that<br>
was given me was so deep. Can I share? Glad you gave me your permission. I<br>
was reading 1 Peter 5:8. You know the one that says that we are to be sober<br>
(self controlled) and vigilant (alert) because our enemy, the devil is on<br>
the prowl like a lion, seeking who he can devour.. I broke it down so that<br>
those who don't read the WORD can see where I am going. I went into thought<br>
on how a lion hunts. Most of the time, they lay there, in the high brush,<br>
letting their prey get close enough for them to pounce on them. Yep! He<br>
waits until they are weak and vulnerable. That is how our enemy deals with<br>
us. He sits from a distance and watches. Checks out our weaknesses and<br>
what tempts us. He finds a way to get into our lives in ways that we never<br>
see him sneaking up. He messes us up by giving us false opportunities of<br>
fulfillment. Instead of running up on us, he leads to places where we end<br>
up feeling helpless and defeated. Someone reading this has been bamboozled.<br>
Know this. Not every opportunity is from God.. I tell my teens that Satan<br>
has the ability and will open doors as well. He has a way to consume our<br>
precious time with "good" opportunities so that we miss out on the "GREAT"<br>
opportunities that God has for us. How does he do that? He finds a way to<br>
create gaps between our priorities and commitments. It is time for us to<br>
close the gap. Let us start to base our priorities on God's WORD and the<br>
leading of the Holy Spirit so that the plans that HE has placed for us can<br>
be fulfilled. I made such a mistake. I was given a vision for ministering<br>
to the youth. When I did it as instructed, it grew greatly and all other<br>
areas in my ministry as well. Then I allowed people to come in, try to tell<br>
us how they think we should do things. That our commitments should be<br>
focused towards other areas and slowly I watched things start to dwindle. I<br>
ended up leaving a group of hungry kids kinda hanging. Yes, I remained<br>
available but my commitment level was changed. It took God forcing the<br>
situation to get my attention. Now refocused and recommitted to what God had<br>
originally given me and my family to do, God has shown so much promise. I no<br>
longer will commit to things that God has not given me to commit to. I had<br>
to go back and evaluate my priorities. I now am seeing God restore the<br>
ministry and placing us around even more youth and young adults than we had<br>
before. I even see their parents and grandparents anxiously getting on<br>
board. . So many of the young adults that I once taught are coming back and<br>
are ready to help with the ministry. We are beginning to see opportunities<br>
to minister across the country on several levels. Satan has a plan to keep<br>
us from experiencing the full life that God has planned for us. He doesn't<br>
always have to use evil devices to disrupt us. He will even use "good''<br>
causes and even "good" people with "good" intentions. He is smart. Just<br>
like the lion.. Let us pray that we choose the right opportunities in our<br>
lives. The ones that God has set before us. So glad I woke up! Pretty<br>
deep huh? I hope someone is fed through this.<br><br>
Bless you,<br>
Rev. Bee<br></span></b>Minister Kai Brown