Rhythms of Grace

Looking For You

For all those things My hand has made,    And all those things exist,”  Says the LORD.  “ But on this one will I look:  On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,  And who trembles at My word. (Isaiah 66:2, NKJV)

I missed y'all. Trust that I did. But in all things there is one rule for me--protect the work. And so I did. I am. Sometimes that means being here. Today it does and I hope for next not too few tomorrows.

There are some great things on the horizon: new releases, new covers, a summer tour. Busy and good things. Explosive things. Things are about to blow up for you too. I hear the ticking in the Spirit. God is looking...for you.

Today's Grace:

Father,

I thank You for seeing me, for seeing us, when we think no one can. Thank you for being there for all the valleys and the mountain tops too. Stir up in us all the potential You gave us before the foundation of the earth. Help us to see ourselves as we appear under the blood of Christ and to act and live accordingly. May our eyes be fixed on the cross today. Our hands too.

In Christ's name, Amen.

Today's Rhythm: Looking for You, Kirk Franklin

Complete Joy

"...Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:2-4, NIV)

Paul knew the secret to joy--being driven by God's love instead of selfish ambition. Even in the Christian realm, it is so easy to become driven by sales numbers and best sellers lists, media attention and acclaim. Much like the children of Israel wanted a king over them, we desire, even crave celebrity and even create it when it suits us.

And yet, often when its achieved, there is loss, strife and pain. Paul, however, sat in a prison room and wrote about joy. Complete joy. Why? Because instead of focusing on his small cell, he went beyond it, into every church he'd ever been too, every heart he'd ever touched. Though his body was confined, his heart remained full of passion and compassion. He continued to be driven by love.

Of the five categories I'll be blogging on this year, this one (driven by His Love) is the middle one, the center of everything. The Bible says that without love, we have nothing. As I've spent the past year working on the Sistahfaith project, I know that is true. Every time I edited a piece, I found myself in tears, in prayer, in praise. I found myself overwhelmed that God had brought so many people to one mind and one heart after the enemy had tried so hard to separate us, not only from one another, but from God Himself.

I thank God for the editors who work on my books, who, for little pay and lots of work, are driven by love to spread the love of Christ through literature. I can see places in the past few years where I wasn't driven by the love of God, but by my own selfish ambition and lust for approval. I can't say that won't happen sometimes as this flesh is a trip to be sure, but more and more I pray to be motivated through love and for love. For it is then that my joy will be complete.

Father God,

I thank you for all the works you've given us to do and all the people you've sent to help us do them. Help us to be driven by your love, knowing that without it, everything is just a clanging symbol. Help us to see beyond our circumstances into the life of others. Lead us to complete joy, for you are glorious!

In Jesus' name,

Amen

Today's Rhythms: Glorious, Martha Munizzi

Thank You:Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary

This video says it all. It's been a crazy week, sick kids, looming deadline and stuff just generally messed up. But you know what? I thank God that I have children to take care of. I thank God that I have books to write. I thank God that no matter how big some problems seem, He is bigger. He is greater. So, whatever is going on, good or bad, take a moment today and just say...THANK YOU. MG

No More Donnie!

After his next album, Donnie McClurkin is going to STOP recording! What I'm gon do? LOL (Like I don't replay all the same old CDs anyway, but still!) Here's the announcement from Christian Etailing. I'm happy for Mr. McClurkin's congregation (who will be glad to have him back full-time I'm sure) but I'm sad for me. Did I mention I don't do well with change? LOL

DONNIE MCCLURKIN TO STOP RECORDING MUSIC
Platinum-selling Verity Records artist Donnie McClurkin told Billboard magazine this month he is retiring from the music business after he delivers the last album on his contract next year.

McClurkin, pastor of Perfected Faith Church in Freeport, N.Y., said he never intended to be in the music business for the long haul. McClurkin founded the church four years ago and wants to devote more time to it. In the last few years, he has become one of gospel music's top-selling artists. His 1997 self-titled release on Warner Alliance was certified gold by Recording Industry Association of America.

Verity is scheduled to release McClurkin's new two-CD set, Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs, on April 5. McClurkin's biography, From Darkness to Light: The Donnie McClurkin Story, released last fall on DVD and is airing this month on Black Entertainment Television. A performance DVD of Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs is due out May 24. McClurkin recently appeared as a pastor in the movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman. He also has a role in this summer's Hopeville, a 20th Century Fox comedy co-starring Kirk Franklin.

A Hip-Hop Makeover?

While shuttling kids today, I caught of a few minutes of today's Talk of the Nation on NPR. The subject? The depiction of women in hip hop. The issue of language was raised also, but the main concern of Essence magazine's Take Back the Music Initiative is how woman are portrayed in rap music and videos.

The first caller, who sounded very young and surburban, said that this is "just how the music is" and a "result of the influences growing up" of some artists.

To which the host countered,"So they grew up in a land with fifty half-naked women to every fully clothed man?" or something to that effect.

That just cracked me up and made me thankful (as one who grew up during the birth and infancy of hip hop) for groups like Cross Movement.

Still, I'm very interested in this conversation as some of these issues play a part of my first book. In fact, I might go sit in the car to listen to the rest of it. The audio isn't available online until after 6.

What do you think? Do arts affect culture? I can still remember the first time I heard "Rapper's Delight." All of us just stood there and stared. It was honest, funny and it addressed us where we were. I'd like to see more of that in hip hop again.

I'd like to see more of it in the church, too.