Milestones

On yesterday, May 16th, I celebrated my 46th birthday and accomplished another milestone in my academic journey, receiving the Master of Theology (Th.M) Degree at Columbia Theological Seminary. When I think about it, there have been so many milestones that lead up to this accomplishment.

Not all of the stones have been great and praiseworthy. The miles I have traveled have been filled with joys and triumphs, successes and failures. As a matter of fact, for every success represented in my bio, I have traveled 2- 3 more miles with failure as my companion. All in all, despite all of life's successes and failures, it's been a good journey!

Still In His Presence,

Dr. Toni

He Restores My Soul: Reflections on Psalm 23

Sunday, May 3rd was Good Shepherd Sunday on the Liturgical Calendar and I preached from the 23rd Psalm at our 10:00 a.m. Clayton worship service. This week, as I have continued to reflect over this Psalm and verse 3A which says "He restores my soul", I have been comforted, encouraged, and strengthened.

Gordon MacDonald in his book, Ordering Your Private World, emphasizes the importance of knowing your rhythm and budgeting your time throughout the year. As we are approaching the sixth month of year, I am becoming increasingly aware of my rhythm and my own need for soul refreshment.

It's been an exciting year with many opportunities for growth and development both professionally, ministerially and personally. I have been balancing marriage, family, ministry, personal dreams and aspirations, while partnering, parenting, pastoring, preaching, coaching and teaching others along their journey.

If you read my most recent blog posts you can hear my need for restoration coming through my musings and reflections. I have shared about handling the cares of life and how ministry never ends. It's as if the shepherd is guiding and reminding me of my need for total and complete dependence on him.

And if I needed more reminding, today, I attended an appreciation program for Ms. Denise Fortune, the retiring principal at my children's school (Providence Christian Academy) where the entire 7th grade class stood and recited Psalm 23. All I could do was sit and cry as these children reminded me of the shepherd's love.

Every year about this time and after a season of pouring out of my soul, I am always in need of reflection and refreshing. I am planning a brief getaway and I'm looking forward to my summer vacations. But nothing will take the place of stopping, listening and allowing "The Good Shepherd" to "lead me beside still waters" and "Restore My Soul!"

Still In His Presence,

Dr. Toni

Ministry Never Ends!

Many of you know that we have been on an emotional roller coaster with our niece Raven Johnson who has literally been at death's door twice in the last year. I am happy to share that she is doing well and coming through this most recent attack with amazing resilience and strength.

While visiting Raven this afternoon, I noticed a family who was seemingly in distress and crying as they waited on a report to emerge from Pediatric ICU. As my sister (Raven's mother) and I sat there it became apparent to us that this family was in need of prayer. As I approached one of the family members and extended my hand in prayer, my heart was overwhelmed with emotion to learn that they were believing God to heal their 13 year old son who was hanging on to his life as a result of a very serious car accident.

As I reflected on this experience during my ride home from the hospital, the thought occurred to me that while I was there caring for my own family, God had designed it so that I would be strategically placed to minister to this family and the fact the "ministry never ends"!

Please pray for this young boy and all the children at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Still In His Presence,

Dr. Toni

Dealing With The Cares of Life

The Bible teaches us that the cares of life can be those things that choke out the Word of God from taking deep root in our hearts. While I believe the Word of God dwells in my heart with all wisdom, it is sometimes a challenge to be focused on what God has and is saying in my life.

This season has been very emotionally draining. We are still standing with our niece and believing God her healing and restoration. I just finished and turned in my Th.M Thesis paper and we are wrapping up the first year of our children being in a new school which challenged us academically and socially at another level.

There is always something and someone who needs our attention at the church we pastor. Bishop has been in and out of town ministering and pouring into pastors and leaders. I have been ministering and sharing in several local and national women's conferences and working diliegently, preparing for the Grand Opening and Dedication of the MSK House on May 30th.

In the midst of it all, we are hard pressed to do self-care and remain intimate and vibrant as a ministry couple. The need to balance marriage, family and ministry is an ongoing and ever increasing challenge and responsibility.

It is in these seasons that I am reminded to cast all my cares of Jesus, because He is the one who can care for and handle all that I have before me. This week, I took more time in my prayer room, I watched very little t.v. (CNN), and meditated on God's Word as I worshipped before Him.

This how I handle the cares of life! I would love to hear how you are doing it.

Still In His Presence,

Dr. Toni

The Monday Report!

It is Monday morning and I am up working. We had an incredible weekend though all things are not as we would have them to be. Our services over the past two weeks (Easter and this Sunday) were transformative and life changing. The kids are doing well in their endeavors and I am so proud of them. Pastor Toni has been on the road this week so as you can imagine, I am ready for her to come home!

Our niece Raven has been hospitalized so we are feeling the burden of this type of family dynamic. We covet your prayers and need your thoughts and good will toward our precious niece. We have both been to the hospital to visit and lend our support to our brother and sister. It is in times like these that we tend to be less the pastors and more the family members.

I began a series of sermons on today covering the topic of "Spiritual Authority." I don't know exactly where this is going but I do know that this truth has to be established in our house in more meaningful and tangible ways. I believe a lack of understanding in this area is a major downfall of the church in the United States. As I post on various subsidiary topics under this overarching theme I get a myriad of responses which evidence a hunger and a desire on the part of many memebers of the church to learn what God's desire is in this area.

One of our churches, Redeeming Love Christian Church celebrated their 4th anniversary on today. It was a great celebration and I am so proud of the work that they are doing. They have raised up a strong and vibrant church which glorifies God and advances the cause of Christ in this hour. Pastors Jamie and Tanya Croone are legitimate, anointed, authentic Christian leaders who have demonstrated their love for God and for humanity in the birthing of this local church.

There were many other leaders their from our fellowship of churches who were there lending their support and affirmation. The congregants who came filled the room with praise and energy. It was good just to be in the number. On top of that, I was afforded the opportunity to preach the message: "Coming into a New Season." God was kind to us and the people were gracious.

As I stated earlier, Pastor Toni has been on travel for the last three days. As her husband, I take great pleasure in seeing her become all that she can be and being used by God in His service in tremendous ways. She does a stellar job in harmonizing the various aspects of her life as a ministry professional with the demands of being my wife and the mother of our children. I always begin to miss her when she is gone from us in this way but I know that she enjoys (and sometimes needs) being away to spend time with her peers, ministry colleagues, and friends.

Now that she has had a powerful and productive weekend, I am grateful to the Lord that He is sending her back to us. Our children, church, and house all miss her. I know that she misses us and is ready to come home especially in the light of Raven's current condition. I am grateful to the Lord because she wants to come home (because so many don't), our kids want her home (because so many don't), and I need her home.

Well, that is the report. I will get back with you later on this week.

Grace & Peace!

Bishop

Thank God For Seasons of Rest and Repose

Spring break is over and it's back to our normal routine schedules. It's been a full week already. The children returned to school on yesterday and we are fully engaged in homework and after-school activities.

We began the week with awesome Resurrection Sunday Services in all three locations of our church. Bishop was on TBN last night and shared his wisdom and grace with a world wide community of believers and seekers!

I worked diligently to complete my Th.M Thesis and turned in on yesterday, one day before the deadline and was very exhausted and spent both mentally and emotionally. Now I am preparing to leave for Philadelphia to minister in the Greater Allen Cathedral 2009 Women's Conference with the host Dr. Elaine Flake and a wonderful array of women in ministry.

Of course the ministry at TGCC is always full with preparation to hear what the Lord is saying to the church and His people. The work in the office is often carried out through meetings, strategy sessions, shepherding and guiding the people through life's difficulties, joys and triumphs! It requires and pulls on everything we know about God, people and ministry.

Someone once said that sometimes the most sacred work a minister could do is rest! We take advantage seasons of rest and repose because when it's time to run there is little time to rest.

Thank God for this past Lenten season and last week's spring break. It is the things that I learned and heard in that season that will carry me in this next season of work and ministry.

Still In His Presence,

Dr. Toni

Enjoying Spring Break at Home!

This has been a very interesting year. It's only the 4th month of the year and it seems that we have done so much already. Usually we take the children out of town for a few days while on Spring break but this year we decided to break at home. Bishop returned from Belgium on Tuesday and yesterday and today he has been re-entering and getting reconnected to the family.

I completed another major accomplishment, finishing my Th.M. thesis paper that is due on next week. The children have been sleeping in and enjoying that wonderful yard that we pay a mortgage to own. It's amazing how much we can get done and accomplished when we take some time to slow down, enjoy our family and home, and take in the things we take for granted like peering out into the backyard.

I'm sure we will not spend every spring break in Atlanta. We enjoy the beach and travel like every other American family. But this year we decided to do something different, we decided to have spring break right here at home.

Sunday is Easter and we will be celebrating the fact that Jesus secured our salvation and victory at Calvary. Wouldn't it be a tragedy to know that he died that we might have life more abundantly and we miss life working and running all of the time and never stop to break for reflection and rest?

Next week life will return to normal. We will be getting up before the break of day, going through our morning routine and rushing out of the house to work and school. I think we will all return better and refreshed because we decided to do spring break at home! Enjoy the rest of your week.

Still In His Presence,

Dr. Toni

Status Update!

Forging Ahead

I was reminded today while I was running my 3.5 miles about the fortitude and inner resolve it takes to keep moving toward our purpose and destiny. It would be wonderful if life would slow down and allow you to progress without any distractions.

As I continued to run, I thought about the many times I had to press on amid the many responsibilities and commitments I have made in life. Much like my morning run, the course has been filled with up hill and down hill moments. I had to pace myself, stop every now and then for a breather and refreshment, and keep on running.

Whatever goals you have set for this year, keep moving, don't be in a hurry, take the necessary breaks and keep forging ahead!

Still In His Presence,

Dr. Toni

Taking It To The Next Level!

I just finished my 3rd week at Taddah's Fitness Camp and my fitness level has already increased. I love working out and I am always looking for new and exciting ways to accomplish my fitness and health goals.

One of the things I appreciate most about the camp is the opportunity to work-out with others and encourage those around me to stay with it and strive to toward reaching a healthier life.

In a few months I will be running my 3rd Peachtree Road Race and I can't wait to see how my running has improved. I'm not running against anyone, I'm just running the race that is set before me and taking to the level of my personal best.

Watch out Peachtree Road Race because I'm taking it to the next level!

Still In His Presence,

Dr. Toni