“THE THANKSGIVING CHALLENGE”

THANKSGIVING is tomorrow and many are feeling that there is absolutely nothing to be thankful for. People are losing jobs, relationships, homes and an overall sense of identity. The mental strain on people right now is very heavy. Christmas is around the corner and people don’t really have the money to go out and play Santa. Today’s economic atmosphere is a crushing blow to America’s “psyche” and her illusions of grandeur. It has been so humbling to us ALL. What I’ve decided to do is “flip the switch” on this Holiday season and look at what is truly important. For instance, I am glad for three simple things: LIFE, HEALTH and STRENGTH. Realizing that most black males my age are either dead or in jail. I am thankful for my FREEDOM. When I remember the “Breaking News” of 2008 so many things happened to so many people that shook us all to the core. Kirk Franklin has a song entitled, “It Could’ve Been Me”, and it tells the story of people that are in the cold, no house, no job, and all alone. Just the simple fact that you can receive this blog via email is reason enough to give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 reads,

” In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you“ 

Everything in our lives might not be exactly like we want them to be, but it is the will of God that we give thanks in EVERYTHING! So the THANKSGIVING CHALLENGE for all of us is to find deep within us something to be thankful for. For me, it’s life, health, strength, a beautiful wife, wonderful children, wonderful sisters and brothers, a right mind, great in-laws, the ability to be proactive about my life and calling, and the promise of a better tomorrow. Most people today struggle to know for a fact the absolute will of God. Today your struggle ends! It is God’s will that we give THANKS in EVERYTHING!

“but it is the will of God that we give thanks in EVERYTHING”

For all of you that find it hard to just say thanks to God because of your present situation, here’s a lil’ something to pick you up!

Be not dismayed, whatever betide

God will take care of you

Beneath his wings, of love abide

God will take care of you

God will take care of you

Through everyday, along the way

he will take care of you

God will take care of you

AND THAT’S A FACT JACK!

Frank Henderson is a young man with aspirations of changing the world and making it a better place for every one of God’s creations. He can be reached at frank@frankhenderson.org or you can visit his web site at www.frankhenderson.org

THE POWER OF FOCUS

It’s, amazing what the ability to focus can do in the life of an individual, household, ministry or business. Life has a way of getting us distracted and trying to make us pay attention to the things that are urgent, but NOT important. I believe that although our methodology may change, our goals should always remain the same. Focus is the ability to pay “deliberate attention” to the task at hand. That task could be to bring into manifestation a new CD, sermon, campaign, book or church plant. In order to ensure success in all undertakings focus has to occur.

“Life has a way of getting us distracted and trying to make us pay attention to the things that are urgent, but NOT important”

I think that in order to be great at anything that you are passionate about doing, execution has to be intentional. In the words of Hollywood actor Will Smith, “no plan B it distracts from plan A“. My wife and I have learned, hilariously I might add, that even shopping for groceries without focus will end up with you at home trying to make spaghetti without spaghetti.  Check out God’s word to Ezekiel, ” Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop [thy word] toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel”. Notice that God commanded him to “SET THY FACE” or focus on the task at hand. Look in the direction that I am calling you towards. Don’t allow yourself to become “scatter-brained”. I believe that when people are hungry to succeed  they come to the place in their lives where nothing else matters but accomplishing this God-ordained mission and IF I happen to  perish, then I will just have to perish. Focus helps us to become more opportunity oriented instead of security oriented.

“SET THY FACE”

I recently spoke with a young man named Larry Brey. He’s one of the pastors at Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. I can honestly say that when I look at the notes from our conversation I have to say that I got “skooled” on the power of focus. Anyone that has done their homework knows that Elevation Church [www.elevationchurch.com] is one of the fastest growing churches in America. Pastor Steven Furtick [www.stevenfurtick.com] is a bonafide preacher. My wife and I recently heard him preach at The Summit in Durham, North Carolina and you could tell that he was taking no prisoners and making no apologies after the sermon. This was a focused man indeed.  Elevation Church is committed to this one thing, bringing the lost to the Saviour. LB stressed that every decision that is made is made with the initial vision of the church in mind,  which again is bringing the lost to Christ. Money is spent with that focus in mind. Campaigns are created with that focus in mind. From the time someone drives into the parking lot at Elevation Church to the time that they drive away, ALL the energy at Elevation Church is focused on bringing them to Christ. Once people are saved there they are deployed and expected to bring others to the faith. Am I asking you to be like the guys at Elevation Church. Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhh Booooooooyyyyyy! I am asking us all to get focused!

“From the time someone drives into the parking lot at Elevation Church to the time that they drive away, ALL the energy at Elevation Church is focused on bringing them to Christ”

fH is a cool guy that has been preaching the gospel since he met Jesus at the age of 15 in 1982. Feel free to check him out at www.frankhenderson.org or email him personally at frank@frankhenderson.org