The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all — I Corinthians 12:7.
First: We continue to pray for relief and the complete recovery of our dear Imam Dr. Nasir Ahmad, of Miami’s Masjid Al-Ansar, from pneumonia complications.
Second, Miss Tee Jackson continues to deserve kudos for bringing people together with her Bible on the Beach sessions at dawn on Saturdays at the Lake Worth Municipal Beach. See the outline for last Saturday’s third of four planned sessions following the photos below. Once again it was good folks sharing the Good Word in a glorious ocean atmosphere.
There was even more good community life later as The International League of Muslim Women’s South Florida Chapter, of which my wife Aneesha is president, hosted another of their annual Pre-Ramadan Dinners, this time at Masjid Al-Ansar. Imam Nasir was sorely missed. But Imam Melton Mustafa, who also is battling illness, stepped in to help cap off a day of good universal vibrations and good company — not to mention the League members’ good food.
Next stop: the blessings of the fast of Ramadan.
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Bible on the Beach outline 8.7.10
Theme: Exercise Your Faith
SESSION III Discipline, Repetition and Lunges
With any exercise regiment you have to be disciplined. In order to reach your goal a set of repetitions are given. Each day you must work those repetitions to get a different result. Your faith is like a muscle — it grows with exercise, gaining strength over time.
It takes exercise and effort to achieve spiritual faith.
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How is your Faith exercised?
Discipline: Before you start and exercise regiment you must decide if you are in it for the long haul. Your mind must be made up that you will be committed to the cause to get the end results. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Repetitions: You have heard the saying, “Do it over and over until you get it right.” I remember when I was little as punishment for slamming the door when I was upset, my mother would make me go in and out of the door until she would tell me to stop. The punishment for the crime was to teach me how I was supposed to use the door. And guess what? I got it. I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray continually.”
Lunges: Lunge into your purpose. Get involved. When God reveals something in Christian service that needs to be done do it! Don’t let anyone stop you, give it all you got. The end result is watching the Holy Spirit work through you. “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” — I Corinthians 12:7.
References: Excerpts from Turning Points Dr. David Jeremiah, Holy Bible NIV
As ever, hats off to journalist extraordinaire CB Hanif and his lovely wife for his faithfulness, his commitment and friendship throughtout this first session of my most recent venture with the Lord. God has truly blessed. I am so grateful to everyone who has counted it great joy to meet the Lord early in the morning. What a blessing this has been.
As we search scripture we find Jesus himself arising early in the morning to talk to the Father or He was forever going to a place for solitude. In a world filled with violence, uncertainty, and yes, even death we long to find solace and it is at the beach early in the morning at the crack of dawn that we can, even if it’s just for a little while . It is at this time and this place that we can truly say we have exercised our faith.
Stay tuned for the next four week sessions sometime in the latter part of September.
Be blessed and to God be the glory!
Thanks CB