4GIVEN

We serve a BIG GOD and according to 1 Kings 8:27, “All of the universe can’t contain Him.” He is infinite, while everything He created including man is finite. “Finite” is defined as “limited” and “infinite” is defined as “ limitless”. Having distinguished the difference between the two, why is it often difficult to trust an infinite God in times of finite adversity? Well, it goes back to our finite nature. We can’t always see what God knows. However, we should not let what we can’t see, make us forget what God said. The Lord wants to reveal to you and me His will in every situation, but in order to receive that revelation, you and I have to constantly remind ourselves that God is not finite. Therefore, you should not limit what you think God can do in any adverse circumstance or situation. Stop evaluating yourself based on your carnality rather, evaluate all things based on God’s omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. Jesus didn’t say in Luke 1:37, nothing is impossible for man (finite). He said, “For nothing will be impossible with God (infinite).” You actual limit the power of God when you doubt the power of God. So, stop trying to make sense out of every little aspect of your life. You do not have to understand how a thing works in order to receive it by faith and to receive the benefit it brings. You may not understand electricity, but I betcha you’re not going to live in the dark. Jesus illuminated a reminder for us in John 14:12-14. He said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” We must let God be God and constantly cultivate that attitude of expectancy (infinite faith) that will enable Him to do great and mighty things in our lives.

Your testimony has a way of breathing life into someone who has given up on their life. The MSG paraphrase of Psalm 105:1-2 hits the nail on the spiritual head and it reads; “Thank GOD! Pray to him by name! Tell everyone you meet what he has done! Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek GOD. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for GOD, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered— O seed of Abraham, his servant, O child of Jacob, his chosen.” There are so many things that encumber our focus in our independent worlds that we often forget we are God’s chosen people (1 Peter 2:9) and that He has given us plenty of reasons to praise His name. It really boils down to this perspective—Life isn’t all bad because God is always good! Everyone should have at least one hallelujah in their spirit and with the leading of the Holy Spirit should be wiling to share that testimony with others that might be bogged down in life’s various disappointments and challenges. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another.” Each of us have testimony and a praise that can help change the trajectory of someone’s life. God wants us to remember the things He has done in our lives and He wants us to share those things with others at the right time. So don’t muzzel your praise to God and don’t be afraid to share a life-breathing word of encouragement to someone who is in need of spiritual resuscitation and enlightenment!

God is a God of new beginnings, breakthroughs, transformation, and turnarounds. Zephaniah 3:9 says, “In the end I will turn things around for the people. I’ll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted, Words to address God in worship and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel.” It’s difficult to grasp this concept when we are holding onto pain, resentment, and disappointment. In order to experience this kind of peace and joy in our lives on a more consistent basis, we must first release all the junk we’ve accumulated and then trust that God is in control and He is able to do anything for us that lines up with His will, plan, and purpose. Once you relinquish the shock and the hurt, you will see that God is able to turn your test into a testimony, your mess into message, your misery into a ministry, and your crisis into opportunity. There ain’t nothing our God can’t do and the only 2 things he won’t do is fail or lie! Hallelujah, God causes all things to work together for your good and His glory (Romans 8:28). All that being said, I am ready to serve God with my shoulders to the wheel because He is getting ready to do a new thing in my life; who’s with me?!

In 1766, the world was introduced to the word “rec-i-proc-i-ty”. Reciprocity has known synonyms such as cooperation, exchange, mutuality, or interchange. The short definition can be summed up in two words, “giving back.” In this edition of D-mars, the emphasis has been placed on the essentials of giving back. I am a strong advocate of reciprocity and it is incumbent upon everyone to understand that there is true value in helping others and giving back. In fact, many of you who will read this article are able to read because someone in your past (home, school, etc.) decided to reach out and help you. He or she took the time to teach the rudiments of discerning the alphabet, interpreting symbols, and reading for understanding and comprehension. It was not long before you mastered it and could understand the most complicated literature. Some of us decided that it was simply enough to learn the skill while others chose to pursue a career at helping others begin their reading journey. We call refer to those individuals as teachers.

People oftentimes approach me after I give a speech or present a training session and ask me do I minister or preach at a church. I am always flattered; however, my typical response is two-fold and centered on the two types of ministers in the world, ministers by profession and influence. In either case, we are all ministers. Likewise, we are all teachers because we have an influence (positive or negative) on everyone we come in contact with on a moment-by-moment basis. Susan Skog once wrote:

“There’s a deep wave of grassroots giving back sweeping the country. A surge of people across all age groups is volunteering like never before. But giving back doesn’t mean that you don’t get anything in return. Helping others reach for a new day rejuvenates us in ways that another margarita-soaked vacation, more stuff, a fatter resume, or a supersized house can’t begin to. We want to feel useful. We want to find meaning. We want to feel this alive and on fire with possibility.”

Here are three simple ways you can give back from finding your true calling to boosting your overall sense of joy:

1. Join a prayer group — prayer is an essential component of our existences as well as our destiny. Intercessory prayer has been the bedrock of our salvation and our country’s freedom, so why not fall on bended knees for someone else (in season and out of season). Do not just say I am going to pray for Brother John Doe or Sister Jan Doe…take the time to pray without delay. In these uncertain times, we need to say more than God bless you!

2. Iron up — some people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could, so reach out and help another person attain a career goal or objective. King Solomon once wrote, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (KJV)

3. Be creative — maybe you have a relative who is interested in a certain academic area, rather than just getting them a bathrobe or slippers, get them information and possibly tickets to a speaker that is coming to town. Compliment your neighbor on a “yard-well-done”…send a hand written note (text messages and emails do not count) to an employee who completed the project on time and under budget.

We do not need a season to begin giving back because if you have the opportunity to get up in the morning, then that is reason enough because when you do it unto the least of them, you are really doing it unto God…so, have fun giving back because one day someone will give back to you!

“What Do You Do in a Crisis?”

An Application of Keith “Mr. D-MARS” Davis’ Book –Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest!

Author Noel Pinnock, B.S., M.P.A., C.A., CCC

www.noelpinnock.com

Happy New Year my fellow readers. Imagine that…we are already more than 30 days into 2020. I know it’s been awhile since my last article, but I greet you with Jesus’ joy. Man, life comes with great surprises and though I consider myself the “Chief Change Agent” and a“Human Capital Architect,” I am subject to the same vulnerabilities just like those who arereading this article. Being under attack has both a psychological and physiological impact on our well-being. Depression impedes one fromsleeping and when one finally doses off, anxiety keeps one up. When God signs the permissionslip granting the enemy back door access to our comfort, we are often caught off guard. It’s not like God sends us an email to warn us of the crouching and roaring lion seeking to devour and destroy us. But I am reminded that we should never get comfortable in our earth-journey because comfort enters our homes as a guest, remains as our host, and eventually becomes our master. Sadly, even if we evict comfort we can’t always be prepared for the inevitable attack, I refer to as “crisis.” Merriam-Webster defines crisis as a turning point or an emotionally significant event or radical change in a person’s life.

Well, last year my entire career and lifeexperienced a turning point that had a radical change in my world. Without going through too much details or imputing those who sought to derail, malign, and kill me, I submit that it wasone of the most challenging moments in my lifeand one that my wife, children, family and close friends would have to endure for months. At the time, I felt like my life was completely overbecause I was publicly shamed, and a wise man once told me that you don’t pick fights with people who buy ink by the 50-gallon drums, the press.

I was in a corner and at the bottom of everything I knew, and to make matters more challenging my spirit of “fight” was suppressedas if God bound me in with the ropes of dependency on him. Because to know me is to know that I am a fighter and I do mean a heavy weight fighter for those this land considers thelast, least, and lost. I am a true lover of God and have patterned my life to love God first, my wifeand children second, and my country, family, friends and enemies as I do my own self. I am usually the first person in the office and the last one to leave. There are very few moments in my life where I put me first so I was surprised when those that I was fortunate to help decided that they would rather see me in a horizontal position rather than vertical. I was definitely in a crisis,where my tears fell, my mind befuddled, and my emotional well-being torn. To add insult to injury, I was subject to a vehicular accident that nearly claimed my life. As if life couldn’t get much worse, my network of business partners and career catalysts abandoned me during this tumultuous time. I felt alone, scared, and wounded. Those who could speak up, sat down and those who could have extended a hand stood still. Almost every career opportunity I had dried up as though I was the land that suffered years of drought. Consider this, I have amassed over twenty-five years of experience in developing human capital and transforming organizational business processes to increase profitability/productivity and decreaselosses/inefficiencies, not to mention leading one of the nation’s most powerful grassroot advocacy efforts purposed to transform the lives of people and their communities. So, why the drought? Is the there no Balm in Gilead, I asked the Lord. And the Lord responded to me with an emphatic, YES! Because God is faithful and even if he brings us to a crisis or allows crisis to come to us, he will bring us through the crisis. God reminded me that faith must be accompanied by works. In the Book of James chapter two verses 14-17 James writes:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no work? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead., “faith without works is dead.”

Therefore, I was reminded that I had to work through the crisis and tough times. One of my good friends told me, “Man, Noel, I don’t mean to be condescending, but God couldn’t have appointed such a difficult crisis to a more suitable person.” You see, he heard my words but didn’t hear my heart because I was dying inside. But as I have always said, when God wants to do an impossible task, he chooses and impossible person to do it through. What I have learned and continue to understand is that no matter what, God is present and draws nearer to us when we are in crisis. 

Crisis is an incubator for leadershipdevelopment because true leadership isn’ttested in prosperity but in crisis. Crisis is the source of growth and development. Crisis places a demand on our hidden potential. Crisis creates unity and produces empathy and solidarity. Crisis reveals our true beliefs and convictions. As a matter of fact, crisis tests our faith and wages war on the silent bigotry in our, sometimes, low expectations of God. To that end, a crisis on earth is an incident in heaven. We may call it a “terrible experience” but God calls it a “little blimp” on his scale. You see, what appears large in our hands is small in God’s hands. In the Book of Ecclesiastes chapter 7 verse 13, King Solomon, descendent of King David, writes:

 “Consider the works of God, who can straighten what he has bent. In the time of prosperity rejoice, but in the time of adversity, consider God made one as well as the other so that man may not discover anything after him.”

Pow! What is he saying? What does this mean?Simply put, God’s hands never leave the helm of our lives. Though we celebrate and enjoy the rush of endorphins that flood our vessels during the good times in life, we must understand that those same endorphins engulf our bodies during the difficult times we are often thrusted in, most times without notice. 

The inevitable is always probable and no, perception isn’t reality until it invades the intimate confines of the real world. Additionally,considering the works of God hands on our life is another reason we should stand againstmurmuring and hasty judgment. True wisdom is shown by submission to the inevitable. In all that happens one ought to recognize God’s work and God’s ordering, and man’s impotence. For who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? The things which God hath made crooked are the anomalies, the crosses, the difficulties, which meet us in life. But we must take advantage of crisis and turn it into opportunity.

This is where I must thank Keith “Mr. D-MARS” Davis, Sr., who reached out to me in thetwilight of my crisis and took the time to ask me how I was doing. You know when people asked me that, my response usually is I am blessed, denying my pain. But this time, I was vulnerable and expressed how I was feeling. It’s like God appointed his call and conversation at the precise moment I needed it the most. Let me put this call into perspective, I have been writing articles for D-MARS Business Journal for over 10 years, dating back to 2010. He considers me a columnist and would tell me about the people who have been inspired by my articles; therefore, I was surprised and elated that he wanted to send me a copy of his long-awaited book, “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest.” It was delivered to my mailbox on my 23rdanniversary, January 11, 2020 and once I opened my signed copy and began reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I devoured every word and chapter in approximately three hours. The content of this book is rich and the construction of each paragraph simple to digest. Starting with Chapter 1 Faith to Chapter 10 Testimonies, I was transported through Keith’s life’s experiences and wisdom nuggets such that both erudition and confirmation stretched and lengthen my perspectives. Here is the chapterplay-by-play:

Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest can and will turn your internal light on and expose the dark places that you have either overlooked or ignored. But it doesn’t end there, it provides simple heuristics that will help you with your treasure chest spring cleaning. As a fellow author of two books and avid reader, I,unequivocally, give Keith’s book 4 stars out of 4

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied by a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. He also is noted saying, that in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends. What wisdom and profoundness that is contained in both these applicable and memorable quotes that weavethe words of promise into a tapestry of hope. Remember, God, in His sovereignty, can turn our tests into testimonies; our messes into messages; misery into ministries; and our crisis into opportunities. Don’t give in to the crisis but give up to God the challenges or perplexities, so that he can give you the peace that surpasses all understanding. My family and

I know victorywas already won because we have maximizedour own treasure chests to advance the clarion call of Christ that is on and in our lives. And as the Lord declares, where are treasures be, so shall be our hearts. 

Through it all, my crisis-opportunity has strengthened my faith, allowed me to focus on my family, diversify my networks, and increased my vision to understand with clarity that my vocation is what I am paid to do but my calling is what God created me to do. Forgiveness is the number one cure for the “crab-in-the-bucket” crisis in the black community because without forgiveness, theadditional weight of hate will impede progressany way. Hello somebody!

If God has put you in a position to help someone or lend a helping hand in crisis, be deliberate, visible, and intentional because if you do nothing, you are conspicuous by your silencebut will be deeply appreciated if you do something. You will be surprised that a small gesture as simple as a phone call, a prayer of encouragement, or a job referral can change the trajectory of someone’s life. I know if you are reading this article, you know someone that is in the thick of things, so give the aboveprescription a try. I promise, it won’t cost you anything but a little time. 

At the end of the day, don’t stand on the sidelines when you are needed in someone’s crisis. I pray this helps someone who has been drowning with no lifeline or individual to pick you up because we can live approximately 40 dayswithout food, 4 days without water, 4 minutes without air, but we can’t live 1 second without hope. Be encouraged and blessed but most of all a blessing to others! 

Remember this, if you want 1 year of prosperity, grow grain; if you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees; but if you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people, but most of all, #get–at–it!

Your destiny is far greater than any material thing you can acquire or possess in this world. Like Esau, too many people have forfeited God’s birthright for a bowl of ramen noodle soup. Y’all know the story of Esau and Jacob as recorded in Genesis 25 and 26. Do y’all remember why Esau sold his birthright to his fraternal twin, Jacob? In short, Esau failed to see the value of his spiritual inheritance until it was too late and when he realized what he had done, he vehemently tried to get it back but it was too late!! So the real question is what did Esau pass up? He passed up a two-fold inheritance that first included a double portion of the inheritance from the father and second, it included a special ceremonial blessing from the father. Esau took a double “L”!! The key insight in my message is that we can’t afford not to make the right choices in life because there is too much at stake! There is no pleasure on the face of this planet that can equally substitute what God has in store for those who are obedient to his clarion call! Having said that, we must be incessantly alert and remind ourselves that we all possess the proclivity to follow the same path as Esau. We are not exempt!! We can google and find examples of men and women exchanging years of hard and good work in personal and professional environments for single moments of pleasure. Esau story should encourage and empower us to avoid such foolishness in our own lives as we draw closer to God by desiring to do His will!

Psst…hey you!! Yeah, I’m talking to you!! I am not familiar with your backstory however, I wanted to remind you that we are all a part of God’s body and despite the challenges you may be facing, I need you to survive, your family need you to survive, the church need you to survive, your community need you to survive, and more importantly God need you to survive so that you can accomplish his plan, will, and purpose for your life! It is God’s will that every need be supplied. Therefore, if it’s still bad, God ain’t done yet! So, don’t give up nor throw in your towel! As it is written in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” Case and point—you are too important to God’s upper story plan! Don’t allow your lower story challenges or difficulties to convince you to abort the process! Yes, God is coming through for you and He’s coming with all power in His hands to restore, revive, renew, replenish, revitalize, and restock everything in your life this world and the enemy has stolen from you and every member of your family!

#YouWillSurvive

Some skeptics and critics believe that speaking things into existence is reserved only for those of the cloth or in a psychiatric hospital [Go figure]. Well, I am here to tell you today that you don’t have to be ordained nor mentally unstable to speak faith over your life. People are dropping like flies mainly due to stress and anxiety. Yes, I know life is hard and at times unfair. However, this should not shutter your faith nor shut your mouths about what our God can do in any situation we endure within the timelines of our lives. Speaking faith is called confession and confession brings possession. Now, I am not talking about the ‘name it and claim it’ gospel. I am referring to spiritual truths taking on a physical form in your broken marriage, in that prodigal child, in your unruly supervisor, in that unexpected diagnosis, and so on! Look at this way, if God created matter than He can also change it! Romans 4:17 declares that we need to, “Call those things that be not, as though they already exist.” I don’t care what skeptics and critics say; in order for the Power of God to cause something that God has promised to be manifested in this natural realm, you must speak, confess, and declare His Word and agree with God that it’s already done! Then God will back up His promise by bringing it to pass in this natural realm! So if you’re tired, burnt-out, frustrated, grieving, hurt, disappointed, jobless, betrayed, broke, busted, and disgusted speak a word of faith into your situation and witness the promises of God manifest in your life. If you believe God’s Word, and use it as God intended for you to use it, then the Word will begin to work in your life. You must act on His Word. Faith is an act and the best way to act on the Word is to speak it!!

I know that my Redeemer lives and He lives in the hearts of every believer! Therefore, don’t allow this world to deceive you into thinking anything differently! Have a bless day and be blessed on purpose and continue pressing forward!

In order to get on your feet you must first get down on your knees. Prayer is the answer to all earthly and spiritual attacks. Not to mention, prayer is your weapon and shield to win every battle in your life. Too often we make praying to God overly complicated. Speaking in tongues is not required, reciting scripture is helpful but not required, and praying out loud is not necessary. God sees broken spirits and he will never refuse a contrite heart (Ps 51:17). If God heard a little boy’s cry in Gen 21:16-17, I am certain that he will hear your voice when you prayer. Jesus prayed regularly and modeled the significance of prayer to us in Matt 6:9-13. As Christian believers, we know that God’s Word calls us to pray. He has commanded us to do so, and if we are obedient to Him, then we must pray actively. And yet all too often we turn to prayer as a reaction, in time of need or unrest, instead of proactively praying to God to move in our lives everyday! Ephesians 6:18 reminds us to, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for [yourself/family]and all believers everywhere.” So the real question is, “When was the last time you spent time in your war room communicating to God and there wasn’t an active war raging in your life?” God will never leave you on ‘read’, so trust that you pray effectually and fervently, you can always expect a response!