Poem of the Month: October Rain
Written By: Crystal Renee'

I got my umbrella out because they say when it rains it pours
Ok God, you got my attention so let me get yours
I know what I need to do; yet my feet go the opposite direction
So here I am before you for a full point inspection
Connection? My dots were tangled up with the wrong things
They say it's my season but my eyes have yet to see spring
I was all talk and no action, life full of subtraction
But I guess I had to get sick of myself like an allergic reaction
It's raining hard, but this weather isn't like the norm
This is cleaning me, revealing me, so I know it was God-formed
I see a vessel being crafted; I'm still on the potter's wheel
The inside of the cup is dirty; remove what has been concealed
You continued to call me all the while I was pressing ignore
Yet when I'm in trouble I cry out for you to bring me to the shore
I hear the thunder; I see the lightning; my flesh and spirit are fighting
If I am what I eat, I need to check the food that I'm biting
I feel like Paul steady praying about this thing in my flesh
But if I want to live that means first I must experience death
I need to die to me because inside of me? Nothing is good
And evil is always present when doing what I should
I'm on this same mountain because I have yet to pass this lesson
Yet knowing that I would be here you allow the Spirit to be in intercession
Continue to fall like dew, until I'm made brand new
Give me a clearer perspective to see your point of view
I contemplated spiritual suicide, but you brought prevention
Going downhill, you stepped in as my intervention
Not to mention, you saw me expiring but gave me an extension
Gave me benefits with the blood of Jesus as my pension
Guard my mind with maximum security
You're holy God; that's why I'm chasing purity
This rain is revealing the face behind the makeup
I gotta deny myself to follow you; there's a cross I have to take up
A mind I have to make up; strongholds that need to break up
I've slept away purpose too long; now it's time to wake up
Time to do a shake up; shout it from the rooftop
My tears of restoration remind me of the raindrops
A drop here, a drop there; but look closer at my huddle
When all is said and done, eventually those drops become a puddle
Who am I to tell the potter how to form the clay?
Especially when it's Your will I need to obey
You know the plans you have for me; in this place I won't always stay
Even if I have to learn to grow in the storm, rain you can go all day.

Devotion of the Month:
Written by Keosha Middleton

What Fruit Are You Displaying?

"But the spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. Those that belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. We got our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit."

(Galatians 5:22-25)

The Word declares that you will know a tree by the fruit that it bears. We have been led to believe that we can live any kind of way and still maintain our "Christianity"... but, having this mentality, is walking after the things of the flesh and not the spirit. Have you ever seen a peach tree, bear plums? Of course not, because a tree can only bear what's on the inside of it. If we are truly rooted in God, there should be a difference in us... in our attitude, in our walk, in our talk. When the world looks at us, they should see the God in us,not a reflection of themselves. There should come the revelation that we no longer live for ourselves, neither should we seek to fulfill our own fleshly desires, but we should do more than strive to be like Jesus. What fruit are we really displaying?

Article of the Month:

Don’t Give Up Your Birthright!

Written by Kimberley Glenn

Scripture Reference:  Genesis 25:19-34

Key Scripture:  Genesis 25:31

During a Spirit-filled service on one Sunday morning, the Spirit of the Lord spoke this to me:  “Don’t give up your birthright”.  Immediately the scripture pertaining to Jacob and Esau came to my mind.  As I begin to delve into God’s Word He began to reveal to me what He meant.  In order for you to clearly grasp and understand the revelation behind “Don’t’ give up your birthright”, I find it necessary to give you a brief synopsis of Genesis 25: 19-34.

The birth of Jacob and Esau

Genesis 25 tells us that Isaac at the age of 40 married Rebekah.  Rebekah was barren but Isaac interceded to the Lord on behalf of her and she became pregnant with twin boys.  Scripture tells us that the babies jostled (pushed, shoved, bumped) at each other in her womb.  When she inquired to the Lord He told her that two nations were in her womb; one would be stronger than the other and the older would serve the younger.   The first son to be born was red and hairy and he was named Esau (hairy).  The second son to be born came out grasping the heel of the first born son.  They named him Jacob (deceiver).  Scripture goes on to say that Esau was favored by Isaac and Jacob was favored by Rebekah.  Esau was an expert hunter and Jacob was a quiet man preferring life indoors.

The Selling of the Birthright

Genesis 25:29-30 tells us that after returning from a hunting trip one day that Esau was starving.  It so happened that Jacob was cooking some stew.  Esau asked Jacob for a portion of the stew.  Jacob replied that he would give Esau some stew if he would sell him his birthright.  Esau was so hungry that he didn’t care about his birthright any longer and swore to Jacob that he would sell it to him.  Jacob then gave Esau food and drink.  Esau ate and drank, got up and left and as the Word of God tells us “despising his birthright”.

What is a Birthright?

This word denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born son among the Jews.  The birthright was given to the firstborn who was entitled to a double portion of inheritance.  The first-born inherited the judicial authority of his father, whatever it might be.

What is God saying?

Don’t let your circumstances, situations, the very things that you are going through, forfeit your rights to what God has already promised you and given to you.  The children of Israel walked the dessert for forty years.  They were almost ready to crossover to the promise land but when God heard their murmuring and complaining, He killed the majority of the people and only allowed a few (those who walked by faith and not by sight) to crossover to the promise land.  Like many of us believers today, Esau was so wrapped up in his present situation “I’m starving” that he didn’t take into account that the decision he made would come with consequences….he forfeited his birthright, his inheritance of a firstborn.  He wanted a quick solution a quick fix for what he was going through.  God allows us to go through trials and situations that he may be glorified.  Don’t get out of the oven until you are fully baked.  Learn what you need to learn in the situation and don’t try to get yourself out until God says its time.  Don’t give up what is already yours.  Walk it out until God comes and get you out.