NATHAN "NATIONS" ALLEN: KINGDOM POET

I am pleased to introduce to you an anointed poet who ministers with grace and ability. His name is Nathan S. Allen and I had the privilege to listen to his presentation one day last week and the Holy Spirit led me to invite him to share his ministry and experiences as a poet on Bernard's word. This is the first time that I have presented a poet on this site and I know that you will be blessed by his story and his poetic ministry that will offered at the bottom of this page. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you through Nathan's words.

Nathan S. Allen is a minister, poet, spoken word artist and author of Expressions from A Contrite Heart. Writing from an early age, Nathan has been charged to minister to the body of Christ through the pen. A prophetic scribe through Voices of Christ Literary Ministries International, he ministers especially in the areas of sexual and relational brokenness. His spoken word name is "Nations" and he ministers at various events around the Atlanta area. He also maintains a blog that can be found at http://www.spiritualhardcandy.wordpress.com.

Nathan obtained his Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee in the summer of 2000.

1. When did you first know that you were a poet? I knew that I was a poet from an early age because I always had a way with words. Probably came from always having the longest Easter speech out of the kids when I was little. I always won writing contest when I was in them during my grade school years.

2. Do you have any mentors who influenced your art? Theresa Johnson and the VOC ministry are the only real mentors I can think of. This ministry has shown me the real reason the Father has given me the gift of writing. I no longer I try to write from the flesh. I do my best to make sure what I write is under the leading of Yeshua and that my motives for being a poet/spoken word artist is pure.

3. Share with us your first public appearance as a poet? My first appearance as a poet came in a secular club. I read a piece I had written and it was well received. The piece was secular in nature and I had become infatuated with Def Poetry Jam that came on HBO. I wanted to be seen and noticed.

4. What advice do you have for aspiring poets? Aspiring poets should be authentically themselves and not try to mimic anyone else. They should also learn to hear the voice of God and write His words, not theirs. They need to ask themselves if their writing moves people to change or at least challenges them. Is what they're writing increasing heaven or increasing hell?

5. How has the church embraced your gift? For the most part the church has embraced my gift. I have received several invitations to minister in different congregations. My home church loves it when I come to town because I do a piece during Sunday service. I believe that my gift is embraced because I'm ministering through poetry, not entertaining.

6. Do you have any future projects? I am currently working on my first novel and am looking to record a spoken word CD.

Be blessed by this poetic offering from Brother Nathan titled "It's time to move forward."

GRADUATION! IT'S TIME TO MOVE

Today my son, Bernard Quincy Boulton. known as Quincy, graduates from the George Washington High School in Danville Virginia. I've been reflective of Quincy's journey from kindergarten to graduation, since yesterday when I attended the graduation of Dan River High School because three of that class of graduating seniors, Vivica, Mariah, and Antwone, are members of the church that I currently serve as pastor.

As I reflected on my son's graduation today a memory appeared. I saw the first day that I carried Quincy to school. I walked him to his classroom and when I turned to leave he said, "No Daddy don't leave me." He was afraid and my heart was breaking as I assured him that he would be fine and I would be back to pick him up that afternoon. I was an emotional wreck as I walked out of that building crying silently to myself, not wanting anyone to see how affected I was by son's entrance into the school system, change had entered his life and our lives as well. The next year we moved him to another school, after we was so callously treated by the principal of that "Christian School." That School, Abundant Life Christian Academy, wold be Quincy's school for the next year and a half. Me and Vantoria was resolved in getting Quincy a Christian education because we wanted him to shaped by an institution that embraced our Christian beliefs. In Quincy's formative years we wanted him exposed to an environment that supported the manner in which we were raising him. It was difficult because we had very little money, but the sacrifice was worth it.

Along with his attendance in school we also enrolled Quincy in Sylvan to strengthen his reading skills. The closest Sylvan Learning Center was in Burlington North Carolina and twice a week me and Quincy drove to Burlington, an hour's drive from Danville for his studies. Quincy's initial tuition was paid for by his Godmother, Daveida Wallace. Daveida, known as Dee, went home to heaven in January of this year.

In the spring of 2000 the Boulton's moved across the country, twelve hundred miles to serve in another church. Not sure of the Christian schools in that city we decided to enroll Quincy in public school. Our first conflict with his teacher came when she suggested that Quincy stop talking about his father so much because it was making the children who didn't have fathers at home self conscious. For the first time me and Vantoria  had to assume our roles as Quincy's  defenders and advocates. After dealing with us that teacher very quickly backed away from her "Quincy can't talk about his father in class anymore" stance.

After a year in that state Quincy would continue his education in two more public schools system. Because he has had such a love for the Lord and a consecrated walk as a believer he has faced many challenges and persecutions. Many days he would be so tired and discouraged from the price he has paid to walk before his peers as a Christian. But I've taught him that his assignment in every school that he has attended is to love his enemies and pray for them. And to confess his faith and believe God for greater things.

Graduation means, a completion and a move. Today my son completes his primary school education, but he is completing so much more. Today when I watch him walk to receive his diploma, he will do it with confidence. My son is no longer that scared little boy who didn't want me to leave him on that first day, he is a confident young man, confident in God and in himself. Quincy's completion of his public school education is also his completion of a season in his life that has been full of potential. problems, promises and persecutions. At times Quincy has not always liked what he has gone through but he has grown because of it.

The Spirit revealed to me recently that I as ascend in the things of the Spirit so will my son, because of our covenant commitment to one another. Where I go he follows me. As I receive promotion in the Spirit my son will receive promotion in the Spirit.

Because Quincy has completed this season in his life now he can move on to the next season of his life. And he will have many moves because God is the God of movement. God is taking Quincy from glory to glory and from faith to faith. I am excited about my son's future because of his sincere desire to serve God and do his will. And it has been my great privilege in his life to speak into him what God has for him. Just a few days ago Quincy looked at me with a little concern etched in his face and he said, "Dad what if it doesn't happen?" When I looked at him and saw the fear in his face the Spirit released this word from me, "It's going to happen son. What you are desiring is going to happen. God says so." The concern on his face was replaced with resolve.

My son is qualified to move because of what he has completed. I am led to speak to many in the body of Christ this morning. You are qualified to move because you have completed a season in your life. You stayed focused and faithful in the season that you were in. You have endured some hard places and faced some hard situations but you stayed and now God says to you "Graduate." It's your time to move. Move.

         

KINGDOM THINGS ARE TAKING PLACE ON FACEBOOK

I'm always blessed when I read about God kingdom connections that are being made on Face book. Some of the most fruitful kingdom connections that I have made in the last two years have been made on face book. I want to share with you one of those kingdom connections.

It was a Tuesday night in April and I was coming home after teaching at the New Mine Creek Church. On that particular night there was an urgency in spirit to get home get in on a conference call that was being sponsored by the Financial Breakthrough Network, headed by Samonia Whisonant. Teaching on the conference call was Apostle Kevin Ford. His presentation was electric. It really ministered to my spirit and released a fresh rhema word to increase my faith in the area of finances.

Apostle Ford leads a prayer Call on Monday nights for men through his network called Global Men Prayer Network. I've attended every prayer Call but one, since I heard Apostle Ford that Tuesday night in April. Although it's a prayer Call it's more than a prayer Call. It is a time for men to get together and encourage each other. It's a time for men to receive the wisdom of Apostle Ford as he teaches the meditations that the Holy Spirit places on his heart. It's a time for men to connect on the phone from different  places throughout the United States.

A brotherhood is being built through weekly Monday night Call. An international brotherhood is being birthed. Men with the heart of David are connecting across denominational lines, and doctrinal lines and racial lines. We are being unified in the Spirit and I haven't seen this kind of concerted effort reaching out to men since Promise Keepers in the 1990's.

Brother I challenge you to find your way to this gathering tonight. The Prayer Call starts at 9:00 p.m. EST. The call in number is 1-218-895-0196. The access code is 6367729#. This is a safe place and a refuge from the isolation that men sometime find themselves in. I can guarantee you that you will not regret being here. The link for Global Men Prayer Network is http://www.facebook.com/groups/gmpnetwork                

PURE MINISTRY Part 2

2 Corinthian 11:3 "BUT I FEAR, LEST SOMEHOW, AS THE SERPENT DECEIVED EVE BY HIS CRAFTINESS, SO YOUR MINDS MAY BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST"

On last week I started a discussion on the topic of pure ministry. I was challenged by the Holy Spirit to examine my own ministry and determine it's purity before God. Of course ministry is the continual act of service to either God or man or both. Ministry is the work that one does because they have knowledge of their spiritual gifts, abilities and assignments that God has given to them to perform.

Pure ministry is ministry done without hidden agendas and ulterior motives. It is being faithful in executing your call with the desire to please God and bless people.

Today as I continue this discussion I want to discuss what defiles pure ministry.

Once a person starts to operate in their gifts which determines the ministry that God has called them to they must always be on guard for Satan. He is our arch enemy and he loves defiling what is pure. 

Paul reveals the strategy of the devil in 2 Corinthian 11:3. Satan uses deception to corrupt pure ministry. Deception is being cheated by believing a false appearance. First Satan works on the vision of the ministry. In the beginning the person is all about God and doing His will. But if a person in ministry is not careful the vision will become more about his will and desires over God's will and desire for that ministry. And that where deception comes in.

If Satan can get you to change the vision of ministry then you will change the voice of ministry. In the beginning it was all about saying what God said. Your motive was representing the Word of God to the world. But now it's more important about what you say and what you think and what you want others to hear.

A deceived ministry is motivated by what Satan has shown it instead of what God has said. Satan deceives through three areas: The lust of the eye (what I see is what I want), the lust of the flesh (what  I want is what I should I get), the pride of life ( I do what I want with what I see and what I can get). Ministry loses purity when it loses God's vision and God's voice. In Revelation 2 the church at Ephesus lost pure ministry when they lost their vision which was to love Jesus first. And Jesus warned them that they were about to lose their voice if they didn't get back their vision. Their voice was their lamp stand which is influence in their community. History records that this church did lose their lamp stand because they lost pure ministry.

Satan loves nothing more than corrupting pure ministry by corrupting the mind of the one who ministers. If Satan can corrupt the mind he can corrupt the the ministry which comes from the mind. It is vitally important to protect your mind because it is the gateway to ministry. Out of the mind comes knowledge, thoughts, creativity, memories and understanding.

Pure ministry comes from the knowledge of God which fills the mind with the thoughts of God. The thoughts of God releases your creativity, which is the fruit of your imagination. The memories of times that you shared with God and which God used you to bless others with your ministry becomes sweet recollections that you can relive over and over again. And you come to understand God's will and purpose for your life.

When the mind is corrupted the knowledge of God is replaced with self knowledge and human knowledge. Thoughts become self centered and egotistical. Your creativity becomes motivated by money and altruistic motives. Your memories become self seeking and distorted and your understanding becomes cloudy.

When Satan gets the mind he gets the ministry. Don't let Satan corrupt your mind. Fill it with the Word of God. Think the thoughts of God which comes out of God's Word. Protect your creativity by recognizing that all your gifts and abilities comes from God to be used for His glory and not your bottom line and reputation. Keep the memories of God's presence in your life and in all things get understanding that comes from knowing God's plan and purpose for your life.

If your ministry is impure repent and ask God to restore you to purity which in Jesus Christ. I believe that the God's people are in a season where God is judging ministry with fire and the only ministries that are pleasing God are those ministry that are pure like gold and silver, and precious stones. Judgment is in the house of God and impure ministries are being exposed and dismantled by the fire of God's judgment (1 Corinthian 3:12-15).  

PURE MINISTRY Part 1

2 Corinthians 11:3 "BUT I FEAR, LEST SOMEHOW, AS THE SERPENT DECEIVED EVE BY HIS CRAFTINESS, SO YOUR MINDS MAY BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST."

I've been teaching at the New Mine Creek Church on finding and maintaining balance between soul, spirit and body (1 Thess 5:23). As I wrote the material that I taught yesterday I was led to the verse from 2 Corinthians that is written as the introduction of this post.

From this one verse the Holy Spirit took me on a journey yesterday that continues to this very minute as I write these words. I was led by the Holy Spirit to examine my ministry and to judge it asking myself if it is pure. And as I judged the ministry which God has given me the Holy Spirit caused me to share with you the same challenge. Is your ministry pure? As I consider the meaning of the word pure I was led to another word that describes pure ministry and that is word is sincere. Sincerity is the ability to be honest and open. A sincere ministry will operate without hidden agendas and ulterior motives.

As I considered pure ministry I looked at the ministries that God has given me. He has called me to be a worshipper and an intercessor. He has given me the ministry of husband and father. he has given me a ministry of pastor, preacher and teacher of His Word. He has given me the ministry of scribe, writing stories, life lessons and teaching material. He has given me a publishing company that published my first novel in 2009 and will be publishing my second book this summer.

As I looked at all of these responsibilities that I operate in according to the gifts and abilities that Abba Father has deposited in me I took a careful look at the purity of the ministry that He has called me to.

I considered a second word that describes purity and that word is faithful. A pure ministry will be faithful to God, and faithful to people. Pure ministry is consistent. It is being devoted to what you have been called to do.

Then I dealt with why is pure ministry so important? The analogy that the Holy Spirit brought to my mind was that of running water washing over and cleansing everything that it touches and flows through. In that same way your ministry is like flowing waters touching and reaching every person who receives it. If the ministry is not pure than what pours out of you affects the person to whom you minister. If what comes out of you and me is contaminated then we contaminate the person that we minister to.

Pure ministry cleanses and purifies the one who receives it. Our ministry is pure because the source of the ministry is Christ and He is pure, without blemishes and spots. As we operate in Him who is pure then what pours out of us will be pure.

David, the second king of Israel had a pure ministry, although he was not perfect. His ministry was pure because he was a God seeker. He was sincere about what he did and he was faithful to the very end. When confronted about his sin he was humble. Not only did David bless his kingdom as he ministered to Israel but he is still blessings today thousands of years after he died.

Seek to be pure in your service to God and man. Be pure in what you do in the service of the Lord. Don't contaminate the gift that God has given you by selfishness and ambition. Let the waters of your gifts flow out of you to bless every person who receives what you give. Be the river that is needed to cleanse the house of God.

The next time I write I am going to show us what defiles pure ministry. God bless you.     

WHAT HAPPENED TO CARLTON PEARSON?

I would like to qualify this post by stating that I am in no way condemning Carlton Pearson or joining the choruses of blogs and news sites that vilify Carlton Pearson. I am writing this post from a deep place in my spirit that is concerned about this man who was such a blessing to me in the past.

I saw Carlton Pearson last night being interviewed by Bishop George Bloomer on the Word Network. Although the context of the interview, if we can really call it that, was interesting my heart was grieving for this man who had, at one point been such a powerful emissary in the Body of Christ but who now has fallen into biblical and theological error.

And so I share with you the question that plagued the heart as I watched this man espousing a teaching that is damnable and tragic. WHAT HAPPENED TO CARLTON PEARSON?

I searched for an answer as I listened to Carlton last night.

First I believe that Carlton has been terribly deceived by the enemy of his soul. Last year I did a series of teachings on the Seven Signs of the End Times that are recorded in the Bible. One of the signs was spoken by Jesus in St Matthew 24: 4-5, "TAKE HEED THAT NO ONE DECEIVES YOU. FOR MANY WILL COME IN MY NAME, SAYING THAT I AM THE CHRIST, AND DECEIVE MANY."

The word deceive means, to be cheated, to be given a false impression, to be caught in a bait, to wander."

The evidence that Carlton is deceived was made stronger, in my opinion when he said to Bishop Bloomer, "I am wandering."

But deception is only the fruit of a more deadly root. The root of deception is boredom. Carlton mentioned that he was in a meeting with men and and possibly women who were leaders in the Church. He said that he was there physically but he was not there mentally and emotionally. He admitted that he had become bored with Church. Then he said that it was during that time that he was looking for another audience. 

Carlton's boredom with church was, I believe, his first step toward deception.

But then something else that he said gave me more of an answer. Bishop Bloomer called Carlton the Nebuchadnezzar of the 21st century and Carlton agreed.  Nebuchadnezzar was a great king, an instrument of God's judgment on God's chosen people but when Nebuchadnezzar became full of pride God judged him and Nebuchadnezzar became insane. I'm not suggesting that Carlton is insane, even though he said so himself, in a joking manner but could it be that pride elevated Carlton until he became so full of fame and fortune and power in the Church that he thought he could introduce a teaching in the Church that would be acceptable because he was Carlton Pearson. Did his own personal pride set him up for his great fall?           

My heart breaks over the decline of this very gifted able man of God. But what should the Church do in response of his heretical stand? We should pray for our brother. We should pray that God opens his eyes to see once again the truth that Carlton lived and preached. It has been in my heart to pray for Carlton for the last two years that he will repent and return to the Church. And I will continue to do so until he returns or until God lifts the burden from my heart.

Would you please join me and pray for the spiritual restoration of Carlton Pearson.

WHEN MEN PRAY

1 Timothy 2:8 "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

All of heaven listens when a man pauses to pray. The creation bears witness to this incredible sight as it remembers the first man Adam and his unquenchable thirst for the presence of Elohim. What a sight it was to behold this first human, created in the image of God walking through the Garden in intimate conversation with His maker. The first man shared with his heavenly Father the awesome opportunities that had been given him as the steward over the earth that God had made for him.

In my imagination I perceive that the prayers of the first man was devoid of religion and pretense. It was man communing with God. It was God walking with man. It was relationship. It was love.

When Adam lost it all I believe that the thing that he missed the most was the place of intimacy with God. Hearing the sound of God walking in the Garden. God walking toward him, God walking with Him. God hearing him and He hearing God.

What the First Adam lost the Last Adam restored. The Last Adam, Yeshua restored this privilege of communing with the Father in prayer. The Father that we were cut off from we now can enter into His presence once again. The Father whose Voice we couldn't recognize is now very familiar to us. Now because of this restoration of relationship we can return to the Garden that we lost and we can resume the relationship that was severed.

Brothers we have our place back. We're back in the Garden and the Father is there with us hearing us when we pray and responding to us as He said that He would.

Paul said in 1 Cor 11:7 that man is the glory of God. I believe that the glory on a man is best seen in his prayer life.

I saw this manifestation of glory last night when I joined Apostle Kevin Ford and the men of the Global Men Prayer Network. It was edifying to me and glorifying to God for these men to take dominion over the phone lines and lift their voices in concerted prayer. Apostle Ford taught on the identity of a man and we prayed that God would restore the understanding in men to know and walk in their identity in Christ.

This network is only a few weeks old but I see God using it to release a new season in the Body of Christ. I call every man who seeks a genuine place of fellowship with brothers to become a member of this Network. http://www.facebook.com/groups/gmpnetwork  Join today.

WRITE WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKS!

I've been quiet on this blog for a couple of months as I needed to take time off to hear the Holy Spirit speak. During this time His voice has been very active in my life. However when God speaks to me it causes a reaction in the unseen realm that bring demonic attacks upon me. This is the case for those who will hear the Spirit speak. The devil and his kingdom hates the entrance of God's voice and God's word into the earth realm. However I give praise to God that I am becoming a veteran in spiritual warfare and know how to engage enemy and defeat his attempts at victory in my life.

A year ago, after I returned to the United States from Nigeria I received a word from the Lord and the result was months of spiritual attacks as the enemy warred against the manifestation of that Word in my life. So here it is a year later and once again I am engaged in spiritual warfare because of an open door that God has set before me. And as I walked victorious last year I am confident in the Lord that I will prevail again.

One of the avenues that the Holy Spirit is speaking so powerfully in my life is through the Voices of Christ. This apostolic and prophetic group was founded ten years ago by Theresa Harvard Johnson. Theresa is a mighty woman of God who walks in apostolic ministry as a voice/vessel of God. She is a spiritual Mother to those who have been anointed to walk in their scribal purpose of releasing the Word of God in the earth though the gifts that has been deposited in them.

Every day  I visit this group and receive impartation from the teaching that is offered. The Holy Spirit is delivering me from a Gentile mindset regarding my ministry/business as a writer and publisher. My heart is being delivered from the mindsets that I allowed in after the release of my first book in 2009.

As an intercessor my heart is heavy for all the authors and writers and even readers who are conforming to the world regarding its definitions for writing and publishing and even reading and supporting the gifted men and women who drives the atmosphere of this industry through their writing.

The Spirit is saying, Come out from among them and have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. You seek fame and fortune and the things of the flesh but the Spirit says seek me first. Seek my assignment for your writing. Seek my plans for your publishing endeavors. Seek my power when they call you to compromise your story. My kingdom is not of this world but everything that you need to do my will I have deposited in the earth and I am awaiting to release it to you if you put Me first.

If you hear the voice of God visit this site http://www.voicesofchrist.com  

   

RAIN IS COMING!

Deuteronomy 11:13-14 "And it shall be if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord Your God and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul. Then I will give you RAIN for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine and your oil."

The Holy Spirit says that rain is coming. Abba Father has promised that He will give us rain in the places where we live, love and lead. The Father says that He will give rain on our land. Our land is our work, our wealth, and our ways. The rain that Abba Father sends comes in two stages or in two seasons. It comes as the early rain, this is the rain of the beginning. The early rain causes our seed to began the growth process. It is the rain that begins life. The latter rain is the rain of the end. It is the rain that brings our seed into maturity. It is the rain that causes what has manifested in the earth to reach completion so that what has been planted can now be harvested.

Be not weary as you wait for rain if you have been faithful to do what the Father has instructed you to do. The Father says if you obey Me the rain will come. In what matter has the Father called you into obedience? He has called you to do what many in the Church will not do. He has instructed you to love Him. Loving God is the seed that you plant that releases the promise of rain.

Tomorrow many will gather in houses of worship all this world but many will not love Him in Sunday worship experience. He calls us to love Him by serving Him with all of our heart and soul. To serve Him is to worship Him, to praise Him, to exalt His name in the congregation of the righteous. But many will gather to serve self. They will exalt themselves, exalt their gifts and their performances and put themselves in a exalted place. They will serve self by feeding their desires, their wills and their emotions. They will give Abba nothing because they worship self.

Many will give offerings and some will present tithes, not for Him but for them. They will give not to obey Him but to play a religious form of lottery as they wait for their big payoff.

Hear the voice of Abba who calls you to love Him by obedience and serve him with your heart and soul. By serving him with your soul you make your soul, which is yourself, come down off the throne of your life and submit to the King who waits to bless you with rain. But if you will not love Him and serve Him He will not cause rain to fall on your land.

The dry place that you are in is the result of your own disobedience. The dry land that you continue to plant seed in can live if you will do what Abba Father is calling you to do.

And for you that is waiting for rain, wait on in faith. Don't get weary in your waiting. Rain is coming! Declare that, Rain is coming! Rain is coming! And when the latter rain has completed its purpose  you will bring into your storehouses Grain (the supply for your daily needs). New Wine (the increase that comes from His riches of His glory). And Oil (the anointing for new assignments in new seasons).        

A PLACE IN GOD

There is a place in the presence of God where we are called to dwell. It  is a place free from the distractions, divisions and disturbances of the world. It is a place of peace, purpose and prosperity.

The Holy Spirit is leading you into this place as you focus your hearts and thoughts on Him.

The spirit of this world is the cause of your worry, weariness and warfare. But the Holy Spirit is bringing you into the house of God, His abiding presence and in His presence we drink from the river of His pleasure.

Today hear the voice of the Holy Spirit who says stop being like the Gentiles who run to and from seeking the things of this world, reacting to the things of this world, and being formed by the things of this world. Become a seeker of God and live in His presence all day and seek the fullness of His presence and when you do that you will discover the fullness of His house. And in His house is everything that You need to be abundantly satisfied. (Psalms 36:8-9).

WHITNEY HOUSTON: THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL

I was working at my computer on Saturday night when the news flashed across my web page, Publicist reports that Whitney Houston has died. Disbelieving the report,  I walked to my bedroom to confirm what I had just seen. I turned the television to CNN and they were reporting that Whitney was dead.

I felt shock, and hurt and loss. It was as if a member of my family had died. Me and my wife Vantoria starting talking about Whitney's presence in our lives. We talked about her voice, a unique gift that filled the airwaves during the 80's as Whitney burst on the scene and filled our lives with her music..

I became a fan of Whitney Houston in 1985 when I heard her sing the Greatest Love of All. That particular song holds a special place in my heart., the first time I heard it sang was at the ninth grade promotion ceremony in June 1982 at the Martin Luther King Junior High School in Cleveland Ohio. The young lady that sang The Greatest Love of All at the ceremony had experienced a great loss that very week when her Mother died. I don't remember the girl's name but I can still see her singing with such power as she touched the emotion of every one of her classmates including me. When she reached the end of the song she started to cry and we all cried with her.

A couple of years later I heard Whitney sing The Greatest Love of All and I was a fan from that day on. 

Now when I hear the Greatest Love of All  I will see two faces in my mind and cherish the memory. I'll see the ninth grade classmate who had the courage to sing with a broken heart. And I'll see Whitney Houston, an incredible gift to this generation.

Second opportunities

It is unusual for me to write a blog on a Sunday morning but I was impressed by the Holy Spirit to share this message with you.  Today is the twenty second day of a new year. Are you doing anything different? Are you pursuing your purpose? I hope that every day is a day where you live in the Presence of God demonstrating the power of God as you receive the provisions of God.

I want to encourage you today to be ready for second opportunities that are coming your way in 2012. I believe with all my heart that God is going to present many of His children with second opportunities this year.

A second opportunity is God bringing you the same experience that you missed the last time He presented you with it. And please understand that it is not my intention to cast you into the land of regret where you bemoan past opportunities that you now realize has past you by. I have great news for you, many of those opportunities that you let get away are coming back. You may be asking the question how do I know this?

Because God gave me this message to preach today at the New Mine Creek Church and the Holy Spirit got me up early this morning to write this message to you.

In St Mark chapter six Jesus came to Nazareth a second time. The first time He came to Nazareth is recorded in St Luke chapter four. The good people of Nazareth rejected Jesus the first time. They missed an opportunity of a lifetime, receiving God who came to deliver them from darkness into light.

But two years later Jesus came back. He came to give the town where He had grown up and where many of His family lived a second opportunity to receive Him and see God move in their community. But unfortunately they missed this second opportunity to receive Jesus. In a few months He would be dying on a cross and a few day later He would be resurrected and forty days after that He would ascend to heaven.

Like the people of Nazareth many of us have missed God opportunities in our past but I believe strongly that 2012 is a going to be a year of second opportunities. And I'm not talking about new opportunities I'm talking about missed opportunities. And so be ready to receive what you passed over the last time.

I missed an opportunity some years ago. I missed it because I was distracted when it appeared. I passed it over without praying about it. And when I realized that I missed an opportunity to live a dream I thought that a dream had come to an end but then some years later the opportunity returned for the second time. This time I prayed and I waited on the Holy Spirit to give me instructions and when He led me I grabbed hold to it. Excitement and faith rose up in me when I recognized that God had given me another opportunity. The same thing is going to happen to you in 2012. BELIEVE IT!

Experiencing Success and Sorrow

I know that you have probably been wondering where I've been. It has been a couple of weeks since I have posted a blog but I have been busy and spending time on the release of my book DIVINE FAVOR: GOD ACTS FOR YOU WHILE YOUR ENEMIES ACT AGAINST YOU. It will be released as an ebook in a few weeks. 

I hope that the end of 2011 was a time of joy and celebration for you as you look excitedly to the new year 2012. Me and my family closed the year with an invigorating vacation in central Florida. We spent five days in Orlando Florida and loved every minute of it. The weather was perfect. The resort that we stayed at was beautiful. The restaurants that we ate at where good, even though I didn't get to go to the Crab House that I was trying to find and kept getting caught in traffic! and our visit to the Holy Land Experience on Christmas Eve was great!

If you've never been to the Holy Land Experience I encourage you to go. The Crouches and TBN has done a phenomenal job in creating that park. It has created a desire in me now to visit the Holy Land in Israel and experience the place where our Lord lived.

My son Quincy

Me, Myself and I.

With a new year I have a new mind. I have new plans and new goals. I have new dreams and new projects. I am excited about 2012 and what I will accomplish because God has given me the idea and the grace to perform the idea but in the midst of this new year I have already experienced sorrow. That's part and parcel of this life that we live. Success is inside of me manifesting and sorrow is in me because of devastating losses.

On last Thursday my wife Vantoria received news that her best friend had died. Her nickname was Dee, her name Daveida Wallace. She was the mother of Eric, me and Vantoria's godson, Kayla and David. She fought valiantly with cancer but last week she broke the news to my wife that they had reached the end of the road together. She bid my wife goodbye and went into the hospital the next day. She died two days later.

It has been painful watching my wife deal with the pain from the death of her friend. The two of them had been through a lot together. They had shared many experiences, both good and bad. They were loyal to one another and they were friends to the very end.

Although the two of them lived hundreds apart and they didn't see each other often the distance didn't diminish their relationship. They counted themselves blessed to have known each other and Vantoria will have a great void in her life with her best friend gone.

Dee and her daughter Kayla

Dee and her firstborn Eric 

The day after I received the news about Dee dying I discovered on the Internet that one of my mentors and a giant in the field of preaching died a month ago. The Reverend Freddie L. Brown was one of Cleveland's greatest preachers. He pastored the Mount Gillion Baptist Church for over thirty years. In the National Baptist Convention Reverend Brown was a renown revivalist and one of the most popular preachers in that denomination. He was packed with spiritual power and a dynamo in the pulpit.

For many years Reverend Brown was heard all over Cleveland Ohio and surrounding areas through his radio broadcast heard on Sunday nights from WJMO. As a young preacher I attended Mount Gillion every Sunday night where I sat and learned the fundamentals of soul preaching preaching from Reverend Brown. Before Reverend Brown would preach he would lead the choir in singing "Look where he brought me from." Another song that he would sing during prayer time was  "God will take care of you." Over the weekend as I mourned his passing I can still hear Reverend Brown singing those songs lifting the congregation in the church and over the airwaves to a crescendo of excitement.     

Reverend Brown encouraged young preachers like me. I preached on youth day at Mount Gillion  when I was eighteen years old. It was the largest church that I had preached at up to that point and the experience was a foreshadow of where I was going in ministry. After that service Rev Brown told me to take my time and grow into the calling that God had on my life. That would be the first of many lessons that I would receive from Reverend Brown who opened his pulpit and his heart to developing me as a minister of the gospel.

Because of his openness to young preachers a gang of us assembled at at Mount Gillion. We were in school learning from one of the best.

The last time I saw Reverend Brown was in a November 2006. Reverend Brown had a stroke that summer that left him unable to speak. With no voice one of the greatest preachers in America could no longer do what he had been doing since the 1950's and he stepped away from active ministry. The church had a lengthy celebration as he was retired that November. I went that night to let Reverend Brown know how much he meant to me. The preacher that Friday night was Reverend Jasper Williams from Atlanta. The service was explosive, it took me back to old times, the way church use to be. 

I walked over to Reverend Brown to speak to him and shake his hand. I told him that I would be praying for him and how much he had influenced me to pursue excellence in ministry as he done, to love people and care for their souls, and to be innovative and always seeking God for fresh approaches to ministry. He couldn't reply although he tried to.

So my mind is looking to success and what I need to do to experience success. And my mind is reflecting on these two incredible persons who I had the privilege of knowing. My heart is full of hope for the future and my heart is full of sorrow over the passing of these two very important people that blessed my life with their presence.    

Please enjoy this short excerpt of Reverend Brown's message "The Seven Promises of God."

  

NEED AN EDGE FOR 2012? TRY YOUR FAITH!

I am so excited that we have reached the end of 2011! Like me I'm sure that you've had a year of highs and lows, successes and failures, triumphs and defeats. I appreciate you for being a reader of Bernard's Word. It is a great blessing to have you visit my website and read about the things that concerns me and that I am passionate about.

I give God praise for 2011 and some of the incredible experiences that I had this year. Some of my highlights for 2011 are:

1. In March I visited the beautiful country of Nigeria for eight days preaching and teaching in the southern region of that country.

2. In June me and group of members from the New Mine Creek Church began learning about wealth building and successful strategies about money and finance from one of the greatest financial mentors in the country William V. Thompson, president of Dynamic Financial Training.
     
3. In July I celebrating twenty years of marriage with my beautiful wife Vantoria.

4. In August my son Bernard Quincy entered his senior year in high school.

5. In August I preached at the National Primitive Baptist Convention on the eve of the election that secured  the presidency of Elder Bernard Yates.

6. In September I attended the African American Literary Awards in Harlem New York.

7. In December me and my family had an incredible Christmas vacation in Orlando Florida.

8. In October I connected with a group of writers in the John3:16 Marketing Network for a monthly prayer conference call.  

I hope that 2011 has been an incredible year for you as well. Because they type of year that you had in 2011 should be a springboard for living with a edge in 2012.

A couple of weeks I was surfing through my television and I came across the Sports show First Take. First Take is a sports show that highlights two commentator who debate their opinions about what's happening in the world of athletics. One of the debaters is the straightforward Skip Bayless (I love it when he gives it to Lebron! I can't help it!) . On this particular show the other debater was the fast talking, take no prisoners Stephen A. Smith.  Their topic of conversation was the Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. The comment that struck me was when Skip said that Tim's faith gives him an edge and that was a great part of why he was having a successful year.

I have to admit at this point that I don't watch the NFL. And I knew nothing about Tim Tebow, but Skip's comment caused me to do some reading about this quarterback who was the source of conversation on First Take. And what I learned about Tim had left me amazed once again at how God uses people who are available to Him and makes them a declaration to the world about who He is..

When Tim Tebow walks out on that field to perform as a quarterback he walks believing that God is with him. He believes that as he executes his plays and leads his teammates that the presence of God is surrounding him. And Tim believes that God speaks to him and gives him peace under a tremendous amount of pressure to perform and conform.

Skip said that Tim's faith gives him an edge. In other words Tim has an advantage because of the God that he believes in and what he believes about himself because God is operating in his life. Stephen A. Smith said that Tim's faith was a force, wow! no greater words have ever been spoken about faith. Because that what faith is, it's a force!  

When you live by faith it gives you an edge. I'm not saying that faith makes you better than others but it puts you ahead. Your faith gives you an advantage. If you have faith and operate by faith principles that's put you in the company of champions. Throughout 2011 the Holy Spirit has been saying to me that He's raising up a generation of Davids. David is the spiritual prototype of a people who have a edge because they believe God and they are willing to go into the valley and kill the giants that has created fear among the people of God. When all of Israel cowered before Goliath faith gave David an edge.

2012 is going to be a year of conquering giants because your faith is giving you an edge. Your faith will make you stand out and take hold of the opportunities that others will run from. You are going to do impossible things because you have an edge. You have a confidence that God has spoken to you and that God is with you. The Holy Spirit has set dreams and visions in your heart that you will accomplish because you have an edge.

I see you in 2012 WINNING, GAINING, POSSESSING! Declare to the giants that you have faith, you have an edge!

YOU ARE IN HIDING

How are things going with you? Can you believe that we have only seventeen more days left in this year? I hope that you had a great year. A year full of peace, purpose and prosperity. I can confess that 2011 was a remarkable year for me even with all the challenges that I faced.  As I prepare to enter 2012 I have resolved to discard what is useless and keep what is useful for next year. I hope that you do the same thing.

This week I watched on of the most incredible videos I seen this year and I had to share with you this video and the impact that it had on me as it reminded me of God's dealing with me in another season in my life many years ago. 

The video features Fred Hammond. Just in case you don;t know who Fred Hammond is, he is  an incredible gospel singer and producer. He sings with incredible power and liberty in Jesus Christ. Fred is a native of Detroit and he currently lives in Dallas Texas. In this video Fred shares how his Mother attempted to abort him but the abortion failed. When Fred's Mother went back to the clinic they guaranteed that they would finish where they failed before and as she was lying on the gurney the fear of the Lord came over and she got dressed and left the clinic saving the life of her son Fred. 

I was shaken emotionally when Fred said, "When I was supposed to be discarded. When the tools that were supposed to destroy me, the Lord took His hand and pushed me back." In my mind I could see God rescuing Fred from death because He had a great purpose for his life. I started celebrating the divine deliverance of God in Fred Hammond's life. I celebrated that God saved this gift that we know today as Fred Hammond, because He had a plan for Fred in this generation.

And as I was meditating on Fred Hammond's testimony my mind went back to a pastor's conference that I attended many years ago. It was during a dark season and I wasn't sure if I could keep going and doing what God had called me to do. In that afternoon session I sat in the auditorium of a hotel and the speaker announced his text. It was Isaiah 49:1-2 "THE LORD HAS CALLED ME FROM THE WOMB; FROM THE INWARDS PARTS OF MY MOTHER HE HAS MADE MENTION OF MY NAME. AND HE HAS MADE MY MOUTH  LIKE A SHARP SWORD; IN THE SHADOW OF HIS HAND HE HAS HIDDEN ME, AND MADE ME A POLISHED SHAFT; IN HIS QUIVER HE HAS HIDDEN ME."

The Rhema Word of God spoke to me that day. I was assured that I was in the best place because God who knew me before my conception was hiding me in His hand. In God's hand I was safe as He fashioned me and shaped me in His image. I was reminded by the Man of God who spoke that day that the best place to be in was the hand of God. Because in His hand God was polishing me, shaping me and refining me to be a polished shaft. In the secret place of God's hand God was making me into a formidable instrument that would wreak havoc on the kingdom of darkness. God was getting me ready for the time that He would release me as His secret weapon against the kingdom of darkness .

As I look back over that time I can see how God was hiding me for this time and for times to come. So when I was watching Fred give his testimony and I heard him say, "God hid me." It brought forth that memory of the time when God was hiding me as well. And this may be where you are right now.

God may be hiding you, because He has some work to do in you before He sends you into the kingdom of darkness as his secret weapon. Rest in God's hands. Submit to His work in you in this season. God is getting you ready to bring the kingdom of darkness down. And when you show up bringing down principalities, running demons away because of the glory of God that shines through you the devil is going to say as I'm sure he said when Fred appeared as a mighty weapon tearing down bondage's and setting men free through his music, I thought I killed you.

Don't despair God is hiding you. He's keeping you in his quiver until He's ready to send you out as a mighty weapon. The best place to be is in God's hiding place. What He did for Fred Hammond He will do the same thing for you. Please share this video with others.

TASTE AND SEE: A SAMPLING OF FIRST CHAPTERS BY THE AUTHORS OF JOHN 3:16 MARKETING NETWORK

Psalms 34:8 "O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD..."

Lorilyn Roberts, the founder and president of the John 3:16 Marketing Network has compiled a series of writings from some of the authors that are members of the Network. In this compilation of works of varied genres you will see a impressive array of the artistic offerings. This particular work presents the talents of the enormously gifted and talented writers who make up this unique group of writers who are dedicated to the mission of spreading the love of Christ through our writings to the world. 

The Sampling of first chapters is intended to stimulate your reading interest in the hopes that you will support these authors by purchasing their books. I am sure that among the fifty eight chapters presented in catalog that you will find many authors whose writings will enrich and encourage you during this holiday season.

From now until the end of the year you can download a copy of Taste and See in ebook format from Smashword for free. Go to Smashword now http://www.smashword.com/books/view/104475 and get your free copy. You can also purchase a copy at Amazon for .99. Go to Amazon now at http://www.amazon.com/Sampling-Chapters-Marketing-Network-ebook/dp/B006H9TJAA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=13237660633&sr=8-2   

I am a proud member of this incredible group and it was my privilege to write the forward to this project. Please support and make it a success by getting a copy today. God bless you and I appreciate you for your support.

Pastor Bernard Boulton

WWW.BERNARDBOULTON.COM      

GOD'S SKELETON KEY

I love it when the Holy Spirit confirms a word that He has placed in my spirit. The confirmation of a word means that God has given us this word to be fixed in our hearts. Once the Word is fixed in our hearts it moves throughout our spirit establishing this truth on the inside of us. This confirmed word is God's instrument that He uses to make something in us and to bring something through us. That something is God's will, God's way and God's wisdom. Let me explain this, the word of God on the inside of us is God working His will in us. God works His will in us so that we can walk in His ways. As we walk in His ways His wisdom is strategies that answers he situations that arise in our lives.  

Last week God gave me this word from St Matthew 6:10, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it in heaven." I preached from this passage  last Saturday but since last Saturday and before I've meditated on this verse and feed my spirit with it as I considered this part of the prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples as a model of prayer. However when God confirms a word to me He will give me the same word from a different source in a short amount of time. It is then that my spirit is alerted that God is bringing a word into my life to establish it for that season. When I know that my heavenly Father is doing this in me it always excites me because I know that He is setting me for a new experience on the journey of faith that I'm on.


On Monday I received a book in the mail. The book was written by Don Nori Sr. the founder of Destiny Image Publishers. It is titled YES! THE PRAYER THAT GOD LOVES TO ANSWER. I won a free copy of this book after I entered a contest. In this book Don talks about the humble beginnings of his publishing house Destiny Image and how God led him to form this unusual house that would fulfill God's will in the publishing world.  Okay so I'm reading my copy, along with three others books and manuscripts as well as writing my second novel and I get to Chapter two and Don talks about how his grandfather sent him into the house to get a skeleton key from his grandmother. Now I've never heard of a skeleton key but anyway it's a key that can open any lock. And then Don calls St Matthew 6:10 the skeleton key secret.

At this point after reading what Don Nori calls the skeleton key I sense the Holy Spirit calling me to a teaching sessions. I know that He wants to connect with this principle and pattern. As I continued to read chapter 2 of Don's book  I see the confirming of this principle and where God is calling me to operate. And I wanted to share this with you. This prayer will open every closed door that has stopped or slowed you down this year. It will open and release heaven into your life every time you pray these words.

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." God wants to answer this prayer in your life. Can you already imagine the kind of year 2012 is going to be for you because you used this prayer as a skeleton key to open every door and bring down heaven into your earth? Start using this key and let me know what happens for you. I'm already anticipating what God is going to do in my life in 2012 as I use this skeleton key to open doors that the devil closed in my face. Let me know what this key is going to do for you.

PLANNING FOR THE NEW YEAR: SETTING GOALS

I've been reading EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey. Chapter 2 is titled, "Start with a Dream, End with a Goal." In this chapter Dave talks about the importance of setting goals to reach your dreams. Setting goals appeal to me because I love seeing progress in my life and I can't proceed if I don't have a signpost, which is what a goal is to me.

Dave talks about how important it is to have goals for every area of our lives. The areas of my life are:

1. Spiritual.
2. Health.
3. Relationships.
4. Finances.
5. Ministry.
6. Business.

After reading EntreLeader I felt pretty good about setting my goals for 2012. It is my practice to work on my plan for the next year during the month of December.

On yesterday I listened to Dr Amos Johnson on his video talk about having unfinished goals. Amos confessed that he set some goals this year that he didn't complete. He talked about how he missed those goals and how he wouldn't make the same mistake next year. Amos Videoblogs always has great information that is rich in application.

So I want you to join me in setting your goals for next year. I'm not talking about New Year Resolutions but goals that's going to get you to the dream that's going to change your life. And if you have any uncompleted goals roll them over to next year. That's what I'm doing.

Check out Amos Video blog at http://amosjohnsonjr.com/vblogs.php?=64

Goals are the road map to your future. Your future starts the day you start planning. Make it today.

ANOTHER VISIT TO MY PRAYER JOURNAL

I was meditating today on what I should blog about and I was led by the Holy Spirit to revisit my second prayer journal. It covered the period of the fall of 1994 when me and my family moved to Danville Virginia from Beckley West Virginia after I was called to be the pastor of the New Mine Creek Church.

On November 22, 1994  I wrote in my journal a thanksgiving to Holy Spirit who had revealed to me that the enemy was setting a trap for me by bringing a lot of activities into my life that would cause me to put on the back burner the time that I daily spent with God in prayer. I made a covenant with God not to fall into the trap of busyness but rather to continue to seek Him every morning as I had been doing for more than a year.

I asked the Holy Spirit to continue to give me alerts when the enemy was trying to steal this most precious time from me and thus render me ineffective in the ministry that God had called me to.

I also prayed concerning my dream of becoming a published author. I had not yet buried that dream. I asked God to get the glory from my writing and that He send me another agent to secure a publishing contract for my first novel.

As I read the words in my prayer journal it struck me that I was able to perceive the devil's scheme to fill my time with activities that would steal my time with God but I couldn't see how he was stealing something else from me, my dream to become a published author. I caught the devil coming in the front door but didn't see him coming through the window.

I didn't realize how my enemy eventually caused me to give up dreaming until I read these words seventeen years later while I'm writing this blog. But what was a victory for him became a knockout when my first novel was released in December 2009. What he stole God restored and is continuing to restore as I write my second novel.

I wondered why did the Holy Spirit warn me about his scheme of making me walk away from pursuing God in daily prayer but not warn me about the dream that he was stealing concerning my writing and just as quickly the answer came from the Holy Spirit. The devil could steal my desire to write because I didn't value it enough. In the pastorate I had become satisfied and comfortable being a pastor of a congregation and I told myself that pastoring was all I needed to do. I'd talked myself out of my dreams and made it susceptible to the devil to come right in and steal.

It would take almost a decade for God to resurrect the vision that had died and show me that He had given me many gifts and I would never be fruitful until I used all of them.

 My prayer for you is that you recognize what the enemy is trying to steal from you so that you will guard the precious thing that God has given to you. And if the enemy has stolen your dreams I believe with you that God restore it sevenfold

Elder Bernard Yates Visits the North Carolina/Virginia Primitve Baptist Convention

The delegates of the North Carolina/Virginia Primitive Baptist Convention was thrilled with the news that Elder Bernard Yates, the newly elected President of the National Primitive Baptist Convention was coming to the state convention to preach the final service on Sunday November 6, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.

The sanctuary of the State building was full as the delegation waited with great anticipation to hear the Word of God from Elder Yates. The pulpit was full of Elders, Preachers, and Pastors. The music was provided by the praise team of the Kings Mountain View Primitive Baptist Church,Westfield North Carolina pastored by Elder J.R. Strickland who is in his 55th year  as pastor of that congregation.       

Elder Timothy Lyons, the Vice President of the State Convention and Pastor Elect of the St John's Chapel Primitive Baptist Church of Charlotte North Carolina introduced Elder Yates in his rhmytic and eloquent manner. And then Elder Doctor Thomas W. Samuels, president of the North Carolina/Virginia State Convention for 35 years, took the podium to raise a love offering for Elder Yates. Following the offering Elder Samuels led the congregation in the hymn, "Father I Stretch my Hands to Thee,"  sang in the distinctive style of North Carolina. One of the unique distinction of the Primitive Baptist Church is the richness of the hymns sang in that region's manner. And Elder T.W. Samuels is a master of Primitive Baptist hymnology with his sonorous baritone voice. In a few moments most of the conventioneers were on their feet singing and giving God praise as a couple of hundreds voices blended in song.  

After much rejoicing and praising the Lord Elder Yates took the podium as the members of the convention stood to give him an enthusiastic greeting. Elder Yates expressed his thanks to the North Carolina/Virginia Convention for their support of him and the convention. He stated, "I recognize that the North Carolina/Virginia State Convention is a force to be reckoned with." Elder Yates announced his text from Galatians 1:10-12. His preaching subject was "The Hurdles of Pleasing People."  

Elder Yates is a dynamic preacher with a unique presentation. He expounded the text and explicated it in a serious and insightful way. He strongly exhorted the congregation to please God as he closed in his thunderous style of preaching that is uniquely Bernard Yates.

Elder Yates deserves the support of this entire convention as we move forward into the destiny that God has set for this branch of the body of Christ. I encourage you to pray for Elder Yates as his success is our success.