by vatg4him

The Rumor Mill

Proverbs 26:22 –“Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.” (New Living Translation)

Herbert Bowen, Jr.
Voices Against the Grain Devotional Writer

What is your favorite candy? Mine are Twizzlers. Each Twizzler tastes as good as the first, which makes stopping seemingly impossible. After some time had elapsed, I realize that a 1 pound bag was consumed in a single sitting. If we ignore the caloric intake and focus on my upset stomach, we will see that my eyes were bigger than my stomach. Thus, can’t the same be said for our mouths being bigger than our minds? For one word kindled the flame. Two words set it ablaze and three words brought the wood. Our phrases have strengthened the fire, which leads to verbal paragraphs that created an unquenchable conflagration. Thus, our words cannot be careless, or our fiery tongue will scathe all who stood around us. Therefore, may we hush and be quiet, for if our words are left untamed we will find ourselves in utter ruin. (Speak through love) Amen

About Herbert G. Bowen, Jr.

Born in King of Prussia, Pa., Herbert G. Bowen Jr., accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at the tender age of 5. An active member of the Central Church of God in Charlotte, N.C. where he resides, Herbert serves as a youth/discussion group leader, where he has preached and taught Sunday school, as well as Wednesday night service. In addition, he has preached at Second Baptist Church in Pottstown, Pa., Destiny City Church in Salisbury, N.C. At his current age of 24, Herbert is the youngest board member on the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Leadership Council, where he serves to lessen the costs of tuition for African American students. Moreover, Herbert serves on the pureHOPE advisory board, where his commitment to “wait until marriage” fits perfectly with PureHope’s mission to bring a Christian solution to an immoral culture.

Finally, Herbert through the will of God writes weekly devotionals to combat the decreasing morality in the 18-30 age group a.k.a., “the transition gap.” This is an effort to re-introduce Jesus Christ to this spiritually starved generation. His devotionals go out to 2,000+ people and continues to grow under the Lord’s watchful eye. He is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Business Management. He provides business expertise to help others start their businesses.

03.07.14

by vatg4him

You Are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made! And Your Accuser is a Loser

Nicole D. Hayes, Creator of Voices Against the Grain

“Kicking the devil in the teeth every day!” Yes! Those words began this Wednesday’s radio show with Pastor Kimberly Jones-Pothier of RealTalkKim.com and Conquering Hell in High Heels ministry, and Ana Martinez, chef and Voices Against the Grain devotional writer. We ENJOYED our time in the Lord! We shared an authentic conversation on relationships, surrendering to God when you’re going through trials, how to ignore your accuser (Satan) who surfaces your mistakes, and “What Is a Proverbs 31 Woman?” In a society where “anything goes,” Proverbs 31:10-31 reveals the honorable woman. The conversation kicked off our month-long radio show series “March with Us, March with Her” as we highlight women of God who are equipping other women to live out their God-given purposes.

Several golden nuggets of truth emerged from our discussion to include:

There is nothing you go through that God can’t use for someone else’s benefit—you are getting through it for you and someone else
Deliberately set aside quiet time with God to develop your purpose
We all fall short—yet your past is not beyond God’s reach or restoration
God will accelerate your path and recover time lost
If you are not equally yoked or on the same page with the person you’re in relationship, they can destroy your future
Recognize your identity in Christ and don’t be defined by the world; get your eyes off of what the world portrays and pray for God to reveal to you everything He created you to be
God will finish the good work He began in you, no matter how broken your past
Satan is our accuser and will remind you of your faults to hinder your purpose—take away the devil’s authority by confronting your past and walk in God who has called you! You are a new creation in Christ who is fearfully and wonderfully made! You are more than a conqueror! Keep moving forward! Only YOU can stop YOU! (Psalm 139:14, Romans 8:37)
God’s plan is to prosper you, not to harm you (Jeremiah 29:11)
A Proverbs 31 Woman is one whose confidence is anchored in the LORD

Want to hear more ‘truth’ nuggets? Listen here!

03.06.14

by vatg4him

Move Forward, Press On

Ana Martinez, Chef and Voices Against the Grain Blogger

Ana Martinez, Chef and Voices Against the Grain Devotional Writer

Philippians 3:12-14

12-Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13-Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead 14-I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

What does this mean? In order to move forward we must let go of things of the past that keep us bound. It is so important that we properly deal with tragedies that have taken place but after we are healed we must let them go and move forward. Today is a new day and God has amazing things in store for you if you will just daily look to Him to supply your needs. Keep moving forward on the path of righteousness, keep doing good unto others, keep upholding the Word of God and stop looking back in fear. You can’t drive a car properly if you are constantly looking into the review mirror. Deal with your issues, face your giants and then MOVE FORWARD! Victory is just around the corner.

Ana

About Ana Martinez

Ana Martinez was born in Michigan. When she was age 4, her parents Pastor Juan and Deborah Martinez founded the Potter’s House Christian Fellowship in Almont, Mich. Ana grew up in the church and in a humble, loving Christian home. Her parent’s faithfulness and commitment to ministry for over 27 years has been a testimony to her. In her youth she was like the prodigal son. She knows what it means to walk away from your call and to stray from the Word of God. Her life experiences have taught her that God’s way and His principles are worth upholding. She is a God-fearing Christian woman determined to do the will of The Lord. Her heart’s desire is to reach the lost and win souls for the kingdom of heaven by sharing the Good News, according to Matthew 28:19. Ana truly believes people are hurting and need to know that there is forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give ye rest.”

Ana has served on the Missionary Field, and has served in and led praise and worship, web design, children’s ministry and youth ministry. Ana’s most recent initiative is Georgia Peach Ministry, a non-profit she founded that serves widows and orphans. Ana is also on the board of the Potter’s House Christian Fellowship. Ana is a private chef and has worked with professional athletes over the past five years. She is also an entrepreneur and is part owner in an interior design business, a chef placement business, and is entering into the food product industry.

Ana resides in Southern California with her three beautiful children and seeks daily to model this scripture from Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

03.03.14

by vatg4him

Worry No More

James 1:8- “Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” (New Living Translation)

Herbert Bowen, Jr. Voices Against the Grain Blogger

Herbert Bowen, Jr.
Voices Against the Grain Devotional Writer

Today has afforded me great clarity. Moreover, today is nothing more than a siren to alert all who are fearful of their future lives. For today or tomorrow is not merely a time for relaxation in prep for our upcoming work week, but a time to prepare our minds to reflect on all that God has given us. In 2 Timothy 1:7 it says, “For God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” Therefore, fear shakes throughout the resurgence of power from the supportive words of our elders, friends, and family. Fear quivers throughout the warmth of love, which covers a multitude of sins, and is the reason we know grace. Fear trembles throughout the reading of The Word as it steadies our minds amidst the distractions of the world. Therefore, allow God to be the anchor that grounds your ship. (Thank you Mr. Shipley for your guidance) Amen

About Herbert G. Bowen, Jr.

02.28.14

by vatg4him

You’re Too Unique to Compare

Nicole D. Hayes, Creator of Voices Against the Grain

Today’s post is from the daily devotional book, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young. Each devotional is written from the perspective of Jesus speaking to you. I want God’s People to get this message, loud and clear.

STOP JUDGING AND EVALUATING YOURSELF, for this is not your role. Above all, stop comparing yourself with other people. This produces feelings of pride or inferiority; sometimes a mixture of both. I lead each of My children along a path that is uniquely tailor-made for him or her. Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless.

Don’t look for affirmation in the wrong places: your own evaluations, or those of other people. The only source of real affirmation is My unconditional Love. Many believers perceive Me as an unpleasable Judge, angrily searching out their faults and failures. Nothing could be further from the truth! I died for your sins, so that I might clothe you in My garments of salvation. This is how I see you: radiant in my robe of righteousness. When I discipline you, it is never in anger or disgust; it is to prepare you for face-to-Face fellowship with Me throughout all eternity. Immerse yourself in My loving Presence. Be receptive to My affirmation, which flows continually from the throne of grace.

Accompanying Scriptures: Luke 6:37, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17- For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Isaiah 61:10, “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” Proverbs 3:11-12, “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12- because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (New International Version).

02.20.14

by vatg4him

GO Past Fear of the Unknown

Ana Martinez, Chef and Voices Against the Grain Blogger

FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real. GO past it.

As a young girl, I won a beauty pageant in our small Michigan town. I became “Little Miss Hispanic Princess.” During the pageant, I planned to do a tap dance number. However, technical failures with the music stopped my routine. The judges then evaluated us according to how we looked and the answers we gave to their questions. I responded with a desire to help children and those in need. At that young age, I am unsure if I fully understood such a concept.

Following that victory, I wanted to enter our town’s main beauty pageant called “Little Miss Blueberry.” However, my mother’s friend told her that the only girls who win have “blonde hair and blue eyes.” I was neither. I had golden tan skin, brown hair and deep chocolate eyes. So, we did not enter the pageant. Fear held us back. I remember the confidence I had from winning the first pageant quickly dwindled away as if I was inadequate to even enter the next.

My Mother is White and my Father, Puerto Rican. Interestingly, I won “Little Miss Hispanic” and didn’t even speak Spanish. I write this not to criticize race or people’s opinions. I write this to encourage you to not allow fear to prevent you from stepping into the unknown. At that point in time, I could have been the first Spanish girl to win “Little Miss Blueberry.” God sees our heart and judges by our inward condition. We judge by outward appearances. I would not be here today if a Puerto Rican man hadn’t fallen in love with a White American woman. In spite of my parent’s differences of race and language, they shared a strong common denominator that brought and has held them together. They share a love for Christ and they were both determined to fulfill His Perfect Will for their lives, and thus they have.

1 Samuel 16:6-7 (King James Version) 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.

7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance. But the LORD looketh on the heart.

Ana

About Ana Martinez

02.19.14

by vatg4him

A Life for God

Jeremiah 10:23- “I know LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.” (New Living Translation)

Herbert Bowen, Jr.
Voices Against the Grain Blogger

Do we know? Is it possible to comprehend the magnitude of this verse and navigate a path, without even seeing the blueprints? Is there a plan when a young girl stands desolate without hope, due to a man robbing her of her purity? Her body now appears dismembered as if painted by Salvador Dali. Her mind is now distorted and love becomes nothing more than sewage down the pipes of a commode. Her heart is now encased in ice. Physically and emotionally she is dead. Her body is no longer her own, but a corpse walking among the living. Her spirit is ready to move on, BUT GOD pulls back the curtain to reveal the light. Her eyes burn and she stumbles, but she manages to reach the door. FREEDOM is found as she takes steps forward. Friends and family rush to aid in her walk, as God never left Ana Martinez, but enabled her to tell her story. Click here to listen http://bit.ly/1jEGXXN Amen

About Herbert G. Bowen, Jr.

02.15.14

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Love Is…

1 John 4:10- “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (New Living Translation)

Herbert Bowen, Jr.
Voices Against the Grain Blogger

If you find this verse cliché, stop reading. If you find this topic redundant, stop reading. If you know the true meaning of love, by all means teach a seminar. For it is only through Christ’s sacrifice that we know true love. Here we’re shown that love has no ulterior motives, nor is it steeped in infatuation. Lust is not cached in love, because purity encapsulates it. Love needs no materials to garner affection. Love is a rotating daily cycle, instead of a single occasion. Love is restrained, not unbridled. Love is satisfying, not insatiable. Love is… In fact, John 15:13 says, “there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Hence, we were chosen to produce long lasting fruit, while administering patience before ripening. Now our flavor is procured, until the Divine Gardener plucks us off the vine. LOVE through CHRIST. Amen

About Herbert G. Bowen, Jr.

02.13.14

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Your Testimony Will Free Somebody Else

Your testimony, your healing will free somebody else.

Nicole D. Hayes, Creator of Voices Against the Grain

On Wednesday’s Voices Against the Grain radio show, we heard a powerful testimony of healing and restoration from sexual trauma and self-hatred shared by our blogger/devotional writer, Ana Martinez. For 22 years, she stuffed feelings of shame and guilt, starting with being molested at age 8, statutory rape at age 13, and raped again at 15. Growing up in her parent’s church and loving the Lord, she then walked away from God and His call upon her life. Today, she is a mom and bold woman of God involved in several ministries and has received freedom by sharing her story with others—so they too can heal. The episode, entitled “Christ: Your True Heart Healer, Soul Lover” conveys how deep, wide and unconditional Jesus Christ’s love for us. He is our special Valentine. No matter how horrific and dark your past or present situation, He LOVES YOU more than you can imagine. He died, rose and lives so you may experience true freedom, joy and peace —not bound by things of this world that enslave.

We were joined by Noel Bouché, president of pureHOPE, a ministry that provides Christian solutions in a sexualized culture. Noel discussed how they provide strategies to equip parents to help their children navigate in this digitized world, where images and messages of sexual immorality are rampant. pureHOPE envisions a world free of exploitation and brokenness. As a new partner with pureHOPE, Voices Against the Grain will join them to fight the proliferation of porn and sex trafficking in our society. To win this fight, Jesus Christ is our HOPE.

Ana Martinez, Chef and Voices Against the Grain Blogger

Noel Bouché, President of pureHOPE

Immediately following the airing of Wednesday’s show, the calls, emails and text messages poured in from listeners (some in tears) who were positively impacted by the conversation. We could not have planned the perfect formation of elements that has begun the healing and restoration process for many since our discussion. God’s perfect timing unites situations, people and willing hearts to accomplish His purposes. Not a day sooner or later. Right on time.

Words cannot adequately convey what I feel in my spirit. In simplest words, I have a spirit of gratitude and humility that such a big God chooses to involve us in His greater plan. Thank you Lord. We love you.

Satan hoped that Ana would remain silent, ashamed and bound by her past. But God’s plan was already at work. In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” As referenced in Jeremiah 29:11, which furthermore says, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,” “plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

As Ana says, “No matter your situation, your story, know that GOD can restore you. HE can heal you. HE is our Redeemer. He has a bigger plan for your life greater than you know. He will turn around the darkest things in your life and make them beautiful.”

Just like Ana, sharing your story, your healing will help somebody else.

Listen to the show here.

02.10.14

by vatg4him

Love Incarnate

Song of Songs 8:10- “When my lover looks at me, he is delighted with what he sees.” (New Living Translation)

Herbert Bowen, Jr.
Voices Against the Grain Blogger

When the novelty fades and the thrill is gone, will you still be there my love? When time ages us and our skin creases, will you still look at me adoringly, my love? When we are ridiculed for having only each other, will you regret your decision, my dove? Or will you take my hand to soar above the earth like eagles, my dove? May our time together be an example. A paradigm of epic proportions. A display to unveil the glory of God’s truth amidst the world’s lies. For the characteristics of godliness built an unquenchable fire that no man or woman can put asunder. For patience nurtured that emotion tied to the gate of eternity, while purity affixed our eyes to behold the soul located beneath the flesh. If perseverance coddled the flame, then what was ignited before will hold its heat from the beginning. Here is love shown in its greatest form. A loyalty and trust that will weather any storm. Love in Christ.

About Herbert G. Bowen, Jr.