M.O.V.E

A Father’s Love

emgivens — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:13:09 +0000

True healing only comes when true forgiveness occurs. If you are the child, you need to forgive your father no matter the circumstance. This does not make light of your pain or mean you have to “water down” the horror of the circumstance, it means it is time to help yourself by releasing your father into the hands of the living God and trust the Heavenly Father to take care of your inner healing and your fathers. You do not have to honor what he did to you or how painful the circumstance might have been; it is the “office” he holds you must honor. This may seem like a huge mountain to climb, but if you have a relationship with your Heavenly Father, Jesus, you are not climbing this one alone. As a matter-of-fact, if you let Him, He will carry you all the way to the top, but you have to want to get there.

If you are the one called “DADDY,” and you know you have wounded your children, you need to ask God for forgiveness. Then you need to come to the place where you can ask your children for forgiveness. If this is not possible, which sometimes is the case, than know that God sees your heart. Secondly, you need to forgive yourself. Sometimes this mountain is harder than asking others to forgive us, but God’s desire is to make us whole, and complete forgiveness is the only thing that sears shut our bleeding wounds.

Daddy if you only knew…

—Steve and Lennette Deal

How Can I do Good when I’m surrounded by Evil

emgivens — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 01:10:50 +0000

Not only do we wrestle with our flesh daily, but we are always surrounded by evil and ungodly men that are being used by the enemy. Sometimes they say things that make our skin cringe, and if some of us weren’t saved. It’ll be consequences and repercussions. Yes, I must confess sometimes my flesh gets the best of me too. So we have to find a Word from God to help us in times of our weakness. It is important for us to understand that when we give our life to the Lord, it no longer belongs to us but to God. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”(Galatians 2:20). With our lives belonging to God we must allow the light of Christ to continue to shine in us. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works I and glorify your Father in Heaven”(Matthew 5:16).

In life we are surrounded by men who lie, curse, steal, gamble, and are oppressors (keeping themselves and others down); men who doubt, mock, don’t believe or fear the Word of God, but they are content with their sins and unrighteousness. I often have to remind myself that despite of their actions, I must press towards the mark of the higher call of God. We must keep our heads up and our hearts humble. “Now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tabernacle; I will sing, yes I will sing praises to the Lord” (Psalms 27:6).

Earlie Givens II- Love, Honor, and Respect!

Greatness in the Kingdom of God

emgivens — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:09:42 +0000

Whenever we seek to be GREAT in the kingdom of God there’ll be much opposition we will FACE. However as warriors of the cross, some oppositions we cannot go UNDER or go ABOVE them, but we have to go THROUGH these oppositions knowing our Heavenly Father will not allow us to die in the wilderness. But while in the wilderness God will be our shield, protector, provider, and deliverer.

I want to encourage you brothers, lift up your head, straighten your back and look evilness, wickedness, and ungodliness in the face and declare “For God I live and for God I’ll die.” Don’t allow anybody turn you away from God, with deceitful words. Continue to hold onto God’s unchanging hands and when the smoke clears. You’ll still be standing firm while your enemies fade away with the wind.

Let not your heart trouble with those who has chosen to turn back and become conform to this world. But as for us and our House (mind, body, and soul) we must choose to serve “The Most High God.” As for our House we must confess we our mouth and believe in our heart that “Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings.” As for our House we understand it’s not by our might or by our power but it’s by “His Spirit” which leads us and comfort us in trialing times. We are brothers lead by faith not by sight.

Greatness comes with a price our Lord and Savior Jesus quoted in Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Does It Seem That The Tests Are Getting Harder?

emgivens — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:46:52 +0000

Acts 14:22 “Confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God.” I don’t know about you, but it seems that the tests we’re going through are getting harder and harder. Do you remember when you took tests in high school? At the time they may have seemed hard. But imagine if you had to take an elementary school test when you were in high school. You’d probably think-oh this is so simple.

So if it seems that the testing of your faith is more intense-it simply means that you’re graduating to new levels of faith! Our faith is being tested and as we pass each “faith” test, we’re finding different means of being tested. In a few years, we’ll look back and think to ourselves-WOW that was a hard test, but now it doesn’t look so difficult! If you’re going through a tough time right now, be encouraged because it simply means that God is graduating you to new levels of faith! The harder the tests, the greater the reward, an increased blessing awaits you! Stay focused, stay alert and remember that God is trying to stretch your faith so that you can accomplish even more for His Kingdom!

Father’s Love

emgivens — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:29:44 +0000

First, keep your promises. Your kids are depending on you, and kept promises are an important way you can create stability during a time of uncertainty. Each broken promise, no matter how small, reduces their trust in you a little bit, and can really erode over time. So, think before you speak, and do everything you can to keep your word. Second, show your kids that you’ll be okay. For them to feel confident and at peace, they have to see that you are. If it’s obvious that you’re devastated, they’ll be insecure. That doesn’t mean you never show weaknesses; honesty is critical. But show them in words and actions that you can make it through the tough times. Also, support their mother. Impossible, you say? It’s a vital element of any healthy family—intact or otherwise. Recognize that cutting her down lowers you in the long run. Help them honor her as their mother. Work out disagreements in private. Fourth, be the best parent you can be. That’s all you can control anyway. They need patience and understanding, fair limits, balance and consistency from you, so don’t try to counteract their mom’s parenting style. It brings more harm than good.

Finally, be involved for the long haul. It sounds obvious, but it’s amazing how many divorced dads get sidetracked by a new job, a different city, or a new relationship—maybe with a new family—and lose track of the sincere commitments they made to their children. Being a positive influence in your kids’ lives means being there when they need you, for big and small things.

Don’t let your motivation as a dad fall off through the years because of frustration or the tedium of routine. You are important to your kids even if they don’t always show it.

You Can’t Afford to Look Back!

emgivens — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:24:40 +0000

You can’t afford to look back on 2010; it’s over and done. All the failures you experienced weren’t to condemn you or make you feel defeated, but to make you better, stronger, wiser and faithful to the Word of God.

I pray you don’t start 2011 with “what ifs” but I pray you speak to your Mountains and your Red Seas knowing God has promised you favor and greatness in your life but more importantly your family’s lives.

My Brothers, I want us to touch and agree in prayer in the Month of January, that the Spirit of Recidivism will yield under the power and authority of the Holy Spirit. Men that are coming out of prison MUST stay out of prison. We can’t afford to continue this cycle of defeat. I truly believe if God can move on Michael Vick’s behalf he will move on the behalf of His Beloved, You. So let us not forget to begin praying that God provides these men with jobs, healthy relationships, and complete favor as they return back to society in the name of Jesus.

I thank you, my brothers, for your obedience. Because of your unselfish prayers God will open the windows of heaven and pour you out blessings you will not have room to receive.

LOVE, HONOR, and RESPECT

Earlie Givens
President

Fathers as Mentors

emgivens — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 18:56:13 +0000

Father and Son playing

Men, you are the leaders of your families. You might be reluctant to assume that role. You might even deny that is falls to you. Nonetheless, you are your family’s de facto leader, whether you choose to believe it or not.

Leaders are always the highest-priority targets in any war. The enemy knows that if he can kill the commander, the troops will be easier to defeat. Cut off the head and the body dies. The body in this case is your family-you are the head. One way to fight back and be the leaders God created us to be is to be aware of our roles, our responsibilities, and our influence with those we lead.

When fathers neglect their roles or are absent from the home, families are attacked by predators. Families are like flocks of sheep. Children, like lambs are naïve and simple in their understanding of the world. Fathers are like sheepdogs, guarding the flock from wolves. We protect our families from human predators and from corrupt television programs, movies, music, books, friends, and other people or influences that enter into a child’s life.

In order to fulfill God’s commission of becoming authentic men and fathers, not only must we become men of action, we must become men of honor in the eyes of our sons. Those eyes are watching us constantly. They observe, among other things, how we react to the many injustices in the world. Do we ignore them and live a lie, or do we live life? Will we do something-anything-to make a difference in the world? A man who stands up to the winds of adversity is a man whose son admires and looks up to him. He is a man who will raise sons of whom he can be proud. Part of raising a noble son is to be a noble father.

Better Dads, Stronger Sons

Rick Johnson