by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 23, 2010 | Christian, Christianity, Christmas, Men
Are you enjoying the journey as we investigate the circumstances surrounding Christmas? Personally, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our journey together. We already know God chooses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. He chose a teenage girl to give birth to our Savior – Jesus. Today, I invite you to look at Joseph, Mary’s husband. Like her, he was a part of God’s divine plan.
Why Did God Choose Joseph?
Allow me to cut across the yard and say: Joseph was OBEDIENT.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:20
Joseph was struggling with his dilemma when God spoke to him (I know i would’ve struggled too). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife (Matthew 1:24). Joseph did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do (consistently).
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, Matthew 2:13-14
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 22, 2010 | Christian, Christianity, Christmas, Women
This week we’re investigating the truth regarding Christmas. While we navigate through massive malls, peruse exquisite boutiques, my goal is that the real meaning of Christmas IS NOT lost. Additionally, I want to show you how God uses EVERYDAY people to do amazing things. Scripture is replete with examples of these people.
Was God arbitrary when He chose Mary? The Bible says, “God is looking for people to use.” If you’ll just get useable, God will wear you out! You have not really lived until you experience being used by God to bless somebody else. Some of you are saying, “God could never use me.” Please allow me to sum up that thought with two words: You’re wrong!
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 20, 2010 | Christian, Christianity, Christmas, History
The Christmas week is here and as soon as I share today’s post, I’m loading my family in the car and headed downtown to experience Christmas time in the greatest city in the world: CHICAGO! Although Christmas has been commercialized & secularized, many haven’t forgot that the reason for the season is Jesus Christ! Although we traditionally celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25th, I can assure you it’s highly unlikely Christ was born on December 25th. Intrigued? Please hold your judgments and read on.
DISCLAIMER: The Scholar In Me Is About To Come Out 😀
by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 17, 2010 | College Life, Family, Fun Stuff, Humor, Mind Dump, Top 5
Have you ever noticed how circular life really is? We start not knowing anything, and enjoy it immensely (childhood). Eventually we think we know everything, but everyone else still thinks we don’t know anything; this causes a lot of frustration (adolescence, end of childhood). At last we realize…no, we don’t know everything, in fact we still hardly know anything; again, we seem to enjoy this stage, in many cases a bit too much (college and professional life, the in-between to adulthood).
The legal age for adulthood is eighteen for women and twenty-one for men (never understood that). However, we all know many enter adult well before AND after the legal age. So, when did it occur for you? When did you discover you were “good and grown?”
I discovered I was good and grown (an adult) when:
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 16, 2010 | Decisions, Goals, Self-Leadership, Success, Vision
There’s an old saying: Winners never quit and quitters never win. Wrong! What if I told you that successful people quit ALL THE TIME. Would you believe me? If not, I challenge you to keep reading.
Every new business, project, career, or ministry starts out exciting and fun. Eventually it gets harder and less fun, until it hits a low point (really hard), and it’s not much fun at all. Consequently, you find yourself asking if the goal is even worth the hassle.
According to bestselling author Seth Godin, what really sets successful people apart from everyone else is the ability to escape dead ends quickly, while staying focused and motivated when it really counts. He calls it “The Dip.” Successful people quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt-until they commit to beating the right Dip for the right reasons.
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