Holy Harvest 2020 Daily Meditations
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Holy Harvest 2020 Daily Meditations In the Midst of it All – Reaping a Harvest of God’s Peace and Blessings Job 1 3501 Holman Street Houston, Texas 77004 Eleventh Edition Greetings Greetings, in times that most of us have not ever experienced in our lives. The loss of our Shepherd Teacher, pandemic, social distancing, large populations of people working from home and traditional school patterns disrupted are all characteristics of this greeting. However, the one constant that is synonymous with other writers in the Bible, is that God is still on the thrown and in control in the midst of chaos. For such a time as this, God is still allowing us to participate in his plan and experience his provisions. What an awesome God! In the mist of what appears to be monumental, we are excited about this year’s “Holy Harvest Season 2020.” We are thankful for our team of writers. They so diligently prepare this blessed Holy Harvest meditation booklet every year. We thank you all for your tireless efforts to bring the Meditation Booklet to fruition. May God continue to bless each member of the team for their dedication to this ministry work. We pray that God will usher the readers into his presence as we all utilize this booklet. During the month of September, we will continue to gather on the conference calls every Wednesday night at 7:00 pm to pray, lay our petitions at God’s feet and anticipate answered prayers. More than any other Holy Harvest Season our families, communities and our country are poised for God’s manifestation of his outpouring of blessings. Some things that we can do as we await God’s outpouring of his blessings are: • First begin to thank God for the blessings we can look around and see. • Find a space in your home where you can place your written prayer request, as many as you desire. • Set aside an additional thirty minutes for prayer, meditation and quiet time with God. • Be present on the Community Prayer Call each Wednesday night at 7:00 pm and invite someone to join you on the prayer call. • Allow God to use you to pray on the prayer conference call by calling the Church office to express your desire to pray on Wednesday night. • Tune in to the Holman Street Baptist Church website to join in, be present and participate with “The Table of Blessings Service” on September 27, 2020. Be Blessed-Stay on Top- Live on Purpose, Rev. Fred and Linda Ponder Preface It would be an understatement to say that none of us predicted what life in this world would be like it has been these last six months. If we believe the reports of the scientist and medical professionals, we still have far to go before “normal” returns. These facts remain steadfast and true: our GOD is faithful! HE is in complete control! HE is not surprised! HE will take care of HIS own! Those who so graciously agreed to be participants of the writing team for 2020 have shared their observations from a variety of their life experiences. The thread that runs true through every writing is the faithfulness of our GOD, who is yet lavishing HIS blessings on HIS people, even in the midst of all that is occurring in this world. Only one person in the group is a published writer, and we are honored to have her as part of this year’s team. The remainder of us, all your brothers and sisters of HSBC, are hoping to enhance our 30-day Holy Harvest Season with these writings and pray that you will be blessed by our efforts. Your 2020 Writing Team September 1 MEN OF HONEST REPORT Scripture Focus: “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” Acts 6:3 KJV For Your consideration: When the news came that our Shepherd-Teacher had transitioned this earthly life to his home in Glory, we were devastated. We loved him and honored him, and many of us had served in ministry under his leadership for forty- three years. During those years, we knew no other leader. He was our Shepherd-Teacher. As sheep, we learned how to follow him because we trusted his leadership. He was a visionary called to lead us to greener pastures as well as equip us to evangelize the world. We knew that under his leadership we would grow and expand our church as a beacon light in our community and beyond. When the pandemic impacted our church as it did all churches, major decisions had to be made as to how our church would respond in this “abnormal” environment. The desire was to continue as usual, but wiser thinking and the need to heed the safety guidelines mandated by our city, county, and state officials, cautioned us to continue church but do it virtually. Our Shepherd-Teacher gathered his deacons together and began to plan the virtual services. They held phone conferences and shared ideas and strategies that would keep the services streaming each Sunday. Power Night Bible Study continued. Our prayer leaders initiated a Wednesday night pray line. Two drive by Lord Supper events took place as well as food distribution led by our mission ministry. Although the church was not opened, the membership was encouraged to call the church or their deacon for whatever their needs might be. We were kept informed as we prayed for our deacons. Although we missed the fellowship, we were all grateful that our church was shifting smoothly from an in-person fellowship to a virtual one, all because the pastor and deacons got together and developed a plan. When the Shepherd transitioned, we were not left dismayed about how we should continue. The deacons had already been taught how to operate. We all mourned the death of our leader for thirty days, but the church did not die! Nine men of honest report and full of the Holy Ghost rose up as leaders to carry the church forward. Each one gifted in his own calling added his expertise to the team and found the necessary people and resources to make every ministry event one that would benefit the people and glorify God. They held phone conferences, zoom meetings, planned and participated in the pre-service video recordings, supported the first lady and family and conducted the overall business of the church. They thoughtfully and prayerfully sought the Lord to provide ministers to preach and teach. We have had Spirit filled Sunday morning worship, dynamic Bible Studies, powerful prayer meetings, mission outreach and festive drive by celebrations. These nine men have been in charge and are strategically leading the way to a successful new beginning. The Pulpit Vacancy Ministry is actively reviewing candidates from which one will be selected as our new leader, and the church will move on. “In the midst of it all”, our hearts are still heavy and our tears still flow, but we are determined that we will uphold our church’s core values, strengthen our witness, and be a “Christian Culture Center for Christ”. No matter who follows in his footsteps, the legacy of our Shepherd-Teacher will be remembered because of Holman Street Baptist Church, Manson B. Johnson Ministries, and the faithful leadership of nine men of the deacon ministry who were ordained to oversee the church’s business in such a time as this. Focus Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for the nine men of good report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom that you have ordained to lead our church in such a time as this. We trust you to lead them in the way that we should go. Amen. September 2 In the Midst of it All SCRIPTURE FOCUS: “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Job 1:22 KJV FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: If you are reading this, you are blessed. God has kept you! Up until 2020, you may have lived a relatively carefree, easy going life. Or, you may have experienced trials, heartaches, loss and lack, but 2020 has presented challenges that the great majority of us has never endured. Consider these verifiable facts: babies born in 2011, the year planes crashed into the twin World Trade Center buildings in New York, on September 11, have lived through several catastrophic hurricanes and flooding; mass shootings at educational institution on all levels from elementary to college as well as in churches, movie theaters and music festivals; legalization of same sex marriage and many advancements for LGBTQ rights; the explosion of the #MeToo movement which lead to the firing or resignation of numerous prominent figures accused of misconduct and the social injustices brought to the forefront of the world’s moral conscious due to numerous killings of young, Black men and women. Considering all of the aforementioned events, 2020 has brought with it a worldwide pandemic that has altered or cancelled high school senior year celebrations such as prom, athletic, academic and cultural arts competitions, and most of all the opportunity for family and friends to celebrate the graduates as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas clothed in the regalia that took them 12 years to earn the right to wear. These babies, born in 2011 and graduated in 2020, will have much to reminisce about as they become the first ever class of “virtual celebrations.” While the plight of our children born in 2011 has been unpredictable and challenging, those of us who are blessed to have lived twice or even three times as long as they are able to add our own survival and endurance stories.