Donations in Rev. William H. Copeland Jr.'s memory may be made to:

The Rev. William H. Copeland Jr. Scholarship Fund 

https://cfkankakee.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2115

Rev. William H. Copeland Jr. Scholarship Fund

Community Foundation of Kankake River Valley

1 Dearborn Square, Suite 500

Kankakee, IL 60901 

or 

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation of Kankakee

Rev. William H. Copeland Jr. Scholarship Fund

353 N. Chicago Ave.

Kankakee, IL 60901

 

It's Time to Clean Your Junk Drawer

 

Do you have a junk drawer? That place in the kitchen where everything goes. I have at least two. Really three. This morning I inadvertently started cleaning the smallest of these drawers. It is a long narrow one and recently I noticed that it wasn’t properly closing. I knew that I had a lot of stuff in there. But I didn’t realize, as I started pulling out a small mountain of napkins, old hot sauce packages, plastic utensils, matches and used Ziploc bags just how much stuff was in there.

As I started pulling stuff out, throwing away some things, setting aside others, God spoke in my spirit, “It’s time to clean your junk drawer.”

You’ve got garbage in your life that you didn’t even know that you had and that you don’t need.

We have to clean before we can move. We have to purge before we can go forward. We have to get rid of the stuff that’s been stuffed and hidden in our past, packed in the back of our mind, the pain hidden in our soul so that we can function properly.

As my brother, Pastor Kenneth E. Copeland teaches, you have to process (or for this analogy we can say clean) the wounds of the past. Those wounds can turn into weakness. And those weaknesses have the potential to turn into wickedness.

Childhood wounds. Relationship wounds. Wounds left by those who intentionally or unintentionally hurt or harmed us deeply by their actions. Those hard things, the emotions attached to them and the lies of the Enemy that we have internalized. Cleaning a wound is a matter of life and death. When we let the wounds and weakness of life turn into wickedness, not only does that sin impact us, but it has ripple effects that impact those all around us.

James 1:15 says in the New Living Translation, “These desires give birth to sinful action. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” Or as the Message Bible puts it, “Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood and becomes a real killer.”

Sometimes our junk drawer is filled with stuff that may have been good at one time, that we thought we would need or use but those things are not useful anymore. Throw it away. Let it go.

Keep the good stuff. You can’t get to some of the good stuff that you can use-- the good things your parents passed on to you, the foundation that was laid in the past, things that you have picked up along the way-- because you’ve got too much junk in the way.

In the spirit, sit quietly before God and let Him lead you as you clean out those junk drawers in this new season of your life. Let Him speak to those areas that you have closed off and not wanted to deal with because it has been too painful. If you have sin in your life, get rid of it and commit your way to Him. He wants to move you. He wants to bless you. But you’re keeping too much junk. It’s time to clean your junk drawers.

(Note: This photo is not my junk drawer. My drawer was way more junky.)

A Reason for Every Season

 

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:11

 

For the past few months, I have been taking a walk around my neighborhood every morning. It is my morning medicine. I walk through the nearby park and through my neighborhood, enjoying the fresh air, nature and the landscape. Most days during the summer months have been sunny and warm. I pause at times and look up at the blue sky and breathe deeply--thankful to God for a beautiful day.

Today it was raining, the sky was gray and the weather was cool—a hint of fall in the air. I still decided to put on my jacket, grab an umbrella and go for a walk in the rain. As I walked and the wind was high and the rain pelted me at times, I thought about how every day is not beautiful blue skies, but every day God shows himself and His power.

The wind in my face, the rain that waters the ground, the changing, falling leaves are all testament of God’s glory. There is beauty in every season. Even the season of winter when it seems like everything is dead and it is cold and dark outside. There are also difficulties in every season, whether it is extreme heat and drought or mosquitoes or floods, storms and bitter cold.

There is also a reason for every season. Sometimes it is a time for planting and cultivating. Sometimes it is a season of growth. Sometimes it is a time for harvest—for gathering and reaping. Sometimes it is winter and everything seems dead. I’m not a biologist but I wouldn’t be surprised if in those seemingly dead times, God is giving rest so that life can continue to produce. Even in the tropical climate of Ghana in West Africa where our family spent months and it is hot every day there are still seasons-- rainy and dry. Every season has its purpose to continue the circle of life. 

For every season, He gives us the armor that we need—the appropriate attire—to endure, survive and thrive in that season.

As I walked in the rain this morning, I thanked God for the seasons and asked Him to let me see Him in and be thankful every one of them—even the ones that don’t feel as good as the sunny blue sky days.

Maybe you’re in the season of raising children or maybe you are entering a season of an empty nest. Perhaps you are in a dry season or maybe a season of harvesting the many seeds you sowed in another season. Perhaps this is a season of suffering and separation. Or maybe it is a time of joy and celebration.

Whatever the season, know that God is with you, that there is beauty in every season and seasons change, but God stays the same. Remember even if we don’t understand how it all works or what is going on that He is working it out for our good and His Glory. He’s providing us with what we need and giving us seed so we can bless somebody else and then they can do the same.

There’s a reason for every season.

At the Well

 At the well.

God sees me. God hears me. God loves me.

This is a refrain that has been constantly through my prayers for the last five years.

God has let me know in very real way that He—the God of the Universe, the Creator, the Great I AM—sees little old me. That He hears my prayers. That He cares.

Like Hagar who met God at a desperate place, a desolate place, God has proven Himself over and over to me that He is the God who sees me.

As the old saints used to say, “I just can’t tell it all…” But I know that God has called me to tell it. To testify, to edify, to encourage others. To let others know that He has also heard their cry. That He sees you. He hears you. He loves you.

Yesterday, my brother, Pastor K. Edward Copeland, taught a Sunday School lesson on “Well Theology: The Theology of Thirst” and spoke on how God met Hagar at the well in the book of Genesis twice during her time of desperation, anxiety, hopelessness.

God spoke to me that it was time to go to this space, At the Well, again and write.

The “Well Theology” lesson reminds us that God sees us, He hears us and He loves us. He meets us at the well—at our point of need and gives us more than we bargain for. And He blesses us not just for us but for our children, and their children and their children. For our posterity. The greatest blessing is His Presence.

After Sunday school, my morning devotional reading from “Jesus Calling” was about Hagar. Talk about confirmation.

“There is no place so desolate that you cannot find Me there…No set of circumstances could ever isolate you from My loving Presence. Not only do I see you always; I see you as a redeemed saint, gloriously radiant in My righteousness.”

Then the Sunday sermon was “Restoration is on the Way.”

God is restoring me at the well—literally and figuratively. He’s resurrecting dead things. He’s healing. He’s working it out for my good because I love Him and I am calling on His Name.

Take courage today. God sees everything. He knows everything. He is with you. He is living Water. He will give you what you need at the well.

An Ode to My Sisters

 

An Ode to My Sisters

I have been nurtured and thrived

In the company of Black women

Comforted and survived

In the company of Black women

Encouraged

Taught

Cried

In the company of Black women

Wrapped tightly in their strong arms

When I was falling apart

In the company of Black women

Understood without explaining

Prayed for without asking

Grown

Fellowshipped

Basking

In the company of Black women

Monica Fountain

January 10, 2021

There is hope

There is hope. Amid the death and destruction, I see hope. Amid the disrespect for each other and disregard for human life, I see hope. Amid the dire statistics and desperate realities that plague our communities, I see hope.

I see it in the posts of my Facebook friends and family. I see it in the faces of their children who are excelling in academics, athletics and the arts. I see it in the photos and congratulations from sixth grade to high school to PhD.

I see it in the smiling faces and grace of the young ladies in the mentoring groups I volunteer with who I have seen transform from angry scowls and jacked up attitudes. I see it in the young women and men who I have seen grow from seeds in their mothers' wombs to responsible young men and women, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, educated, socially conscious and saved adults.

I see hope in the posts of mothers who instead of berating, belittling and casting shade on Father's Day, salute and honor the men who are fathers and don't try to bestow that mantle upon themselves but rest in the grace of who they are as mothers. Be encouraged "single" mother. You are not alone. There is still a village. There is hope.

Congratulations to those who have set and are setting the example of Christian marriages withstanding the tests of time. Those who have set their face like flint and returned to school to finish degrees or pursue advanced ones.

Thank you to the teachers who are dedicated educators and sacrifice for their students and for some students are the "mothers" and "fathers" they don't have at home. Thank you to the preachers and pastors who pray, teach, walk the walk and sacrifice who are servant leaders and shepherds and not sheep shearers and swindlers.

Kudos to the parents who have put in the hard work, not been afraid to say no, and not cared when others didn't understand your decisions regarding YOUR child. To the parents who have gone to the parent teacher conferences, waited hours in the cold at a track meet for a one minute race, gone to games, recitals, checked homework and teachers when necessary.

I salute all of you this morning. Your work is not unnoticed. Your labor is not in vain. Our families are our foundation and our hope is in Christ Jesus, the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

Keep shining and bringing glory to your heavenly Father.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

There is hope.

Power Up

Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

We cannot operate properly if we don't take time to be still and plug into our power source. Our source is God, the omnipotent, all powerful, Creator of the heavens and the earth. The sovereign God is the source of our strength.

In this day and age, we are constantly using our smartphones. We use them to talk, text, take notes, take pictures, videos, etc. As we go through the day, our phone goes with us. It stays on the go. But eventually with all that we do on our phones, the battery starts to run down. That's when we have to put the phone is a stationary place, plug it in and recharge it so that we can continue to use it to do all that we do.

The same with us physically and spiritually. Our spiritual batteries get run down. We need to get still and plug into our power source. We can't operate on the run. We have to sit down and recognize where our strength comes from, plug into Him, listen to Him for wisdom, guidance, direction and discernment.We can't operate and fulfill our purpose if we don't take time to be still.In order to recharge, you need to be still.

Spend time in prayer and God's Word. It will give you the power you need to live.

Complete in Christ

A reminder to the ladies especially: You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You don't have to be jealous or feel less than your sisters. God has blessed you with gifts and has created you fearfully and wonderfully on purpose with a purpose.

"So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority." Colossians 2:10

A Lesson for Our Children

A Message to Our Daughters

These Are the Good Old Days

These are the good old days.

Savor the moment. Appreciate. Congratulate. Celebrate.

Love deeply. Forgive quickly. Keep moving forward deliberately.

Make memories for these are the good old days.

Laugh loudly.

Pray sincerely.

Give generously.

Don't look back with regret but forward with hope.

Read voraciously. Learn every day.

Stay positive. Avoid negative.

Stop.

Slow down. Take in the moment.

Say "I love you" often. Give compliments freely.

Read God's Word daily and live it consistently.

Take lots of pictures.

Spend time with elders. Record their stories. Preserve this history. Spend time with family.

For these are the good old days.

Sick and Tired

I am so sick and tired of hashtags.

Hashtags that announce or chronicle another tragedy.

 I am sick and tired of young mothers being raped and shot in the head. I am sick and tired of little boys like Tyshawn being shot in their heads, their little bodies riddled with bullets . I’m tired of young men dying in the street, their bodies full of bullet holes. Fathers dying,  their life being choked out of them.

 I am tired of young women visiting their grandmother dying of gunshot wounds while walking to a bus stop to go home. Young people with promise cut down by ignorance.

I’m tired of Tyesa Cherrys dying after going to a movie, killed by a bullet meant for someone else. I am sick of grandmothers, pastors and college students at bible studies being shot down in their own church. I’m sick and tired of young men going into elementary schools, college classrooms and movie theaters and randomly shooting and killing.

Seeing Red About Starbucks Cups

I hear that some Christians are upset that Starbucks cups are red. The ubiquitous café has chosen a simple red cup for the holiday months. Apparently some Christians feel Starbucks has declared “war on Christmas” because their holiday cups usually have a snowflake or some other holiday symbol on the cup.

These Christians reportedly are "seeing red" (becoming very angry) over Starbucks cups. I read one post where it said that Christians were encouraged to say that their name is Merry Christmas so the barista will have to say the abolished words when they fix their drink.

I hear Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has even weighed in on the matter, suggesting a Starbucks boycott and if he became president everyone will be saying “Merry Christmas” at every Starbucks.

Wow.

From the Editor: Pain to Purpose

Have you ever been in pain? I mean real pain. Maybe it was physical pain. A constant ache that will not go away and nothing will alleviate. Maybe it is an emotional pain. Have you ever felt a stab in your heart that although no one has touched you physically you feel it in your chest and you understand why they call it a broken heart?

The pain of divorce or an unfaithful spouse. The pain of a wayward child. The pain of disappointment, rejection or depression. The deep pain of longing for a child and month after month the pregnancy test showing no pink line. The pain of longing for a spouse, someone to share your life with and to come home to instead of emptiness and loneliness. The pain of the death of a loved one.

Pain is a part of life. Pain is a part of the process.

We’re all in process. A process is a series of actions, changes or functions bringing about a result. Process is also defined as progress. God  has a purpose for the process. He is perfecting you. He has begun a good work in you and He’s going to complete it. (Philippians 1:6)

But  the process is painful. It doesn’t feel good. It hurts. But there’s a purpose for your pain. Just like the pains of childbirth produce the promise of a long awaited baby, your pain is giving birth to something God has placed in you. Your pain is going to produce his purpose, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13.

Sexual Healing

A prominent Chicago area pastor has been accused of sexually molesting a young lady who came to him for counseling. He has been charged and will have his day in court to deny or confess to the allegations. Published reports say that a confession was recorded by the victim and her mother. Published reports also say that the pastor made a "positive disclosure" to a detective that was consistent with the girl's story. We shall see. Innocent until proven guilty.

Unfortunately, I do not find it hard to believe that it is possible.

I know so many victims and stories of victims of those molested and raped--some right in the house of God-- by ministers, deacons, Sunday School teachers, fathers, stepfathers, stepmothers, and mothers who were supposed to be watching over their souls and instead violated them. Not just Catholic priests, but Baptist, Pentecostal and evangelical pastors who were representative of God to children who instead molested and raped them.

It’s an ugly thing to deal with and so often we don’t. We are dismayed at the downfall of a leader instead of tending to the sheep who have been mutilated.

I pray for the victims. For their healing. For their recovery from the egregious damage done, especially when someone in spiritual authority abuses that authority.

Too often, we show more care and concern for the perpetrator than the victim. The victim of the crime is left to the side and given the side eye, questioned and doubted, even as a child.

Do false accusations happen? No doubt. But there are also cases where by confession or other means, we know that a crime has been committed. And there are so many cases that are never reported.

Does the perpetrator of the crime need prayer, forgiveness, healing and restoration? Yes. But let’s focus on the victim first. They are the ones who have been harmed and wounded. Some have suffered and never recovered. Their view of God forever skewed by the evil trespass done against them.

The Enemy operates in darkness. I pray that God pulls the cover off and reveals those who are hurting his children so that others will not fall victim and those who have suffered will be able to start to heal. I also pray that the Church would help those who have been abused to heal.

In the Spring 2013 issue of the Well Magazine, an article dealing with healing from sexual abuse and the church was published entitled Sexual Healing.

One in four women and one in six men are or will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime. Someone in the pew at church sitting next to you may have been a victim of rape. Maybe you suffered sexual violence or violation.

A Spiritual Checkup: What are you feeding yourself?

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

What are you letting into your home, heart and soul through the televisions shows you watch and the music you listen to every day and every week?

Is their theme murder, adultery, lying, sex, perversion, homosexuality, misogyny? Is there anything uplifting or praiseworthy? Or does it glorify deceit? Does it feed your soul or your flesh?

What images are you letting into your mind that will replay all day? What beat and lyrics are in your ear?

Does it glorify God? What is your daily diet? Your weekly diet?

Do you spend more time on Facebook than in God’s book?

What are you feeding yourself?

Is it more God’s Word or the world?

How is it affecting your spiritual health?

God’s Kingdom or man’s Empire?

God’s power or man’s Power?

 The Way, The Truth and the Life or a “real” fake housewife?

God’s unfailing love or Love and Hip Hop?

The Great I Am or I Am Cait?

Keeping up with a lie and reality tv that’s not real?

 Eating what the world has to offer or the whole roll of God?

You are what you eat. Are you eating a healthy, balanced diet or a bunch of junk?

The Well Magazine Fall/Winter 2015

Speak Life Challenge: Testify

Speak Life Challenge

A Measure of Success

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Joshua 1:8

Lord, let me be successful by your measure, not man’s measure. Written in my prayer journal, January 28, 2015

I must confess. I struggle with feelings of failure. They are usually brought on when I compare myself with others or contemplate what others think about my life. I start to feel like what I have done or what I am doing doesn’t measure up. That I should have or could have done more with my life. That I should have gone to some of the places career wise that my colleagues did. I should have authored some books. Been a foreign correspondent.  Won awards for my work. That I am not successful.

When those feelings come upon me I have to remember what real success is.

Man’s measure of success is fame and fortune. Man measures success by your popularity, prestige and power. Man measures success by how many facebook likes you get and if your video has gone viral. Are you invited to the right places with the beautiful people? Are you known and your work admired?

It’s a natural thing. It’s the way we are wired. As people we want to be heard, seen and respected.

By man’s measure most of us fall short.

But even folks who we think are successful because they have more money than they can spend can be miserable. They may be popular and surrounded by people and still be lonely and depressed. They can be successful by the world’s measure and still overdose on drugs.

The dictionary defines success as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.  I believe that true success is fulfilling your divine purpose.

 What is our purpose? Ultimately, our purpose is to know God and look like His Son. But how that plays out individually varies. Different seasons may entail different tasks and assignments. But it is always the same purpose. To glorify God.  To show evidence of who He is.

The study notes in my Bible about the prophet Jeremiah say, “Success must never be measured by popularity, fame or fortune, for these are temporal measures…God measures our success with the yardsticks of obedience, faithfulness and righteousness. If you are faithfully doing the work God gives you, you are successful in his eyes.”

In the world’s eyes the prophet Jeremiah, John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul were miserable failures. Yet, we know that they were extremely successful because they did God’s will. Those are they eyes that matter most--God’s eyes.

When you are faithfully pursuing God’s purpose, you may not see all of the results in this life. People may not understand what you’re doing. You may be a failure in some eyes. Some results we won’t see until eternity. But keep working. Keep trusting God. Keep believing.

God’s measuring stick is the only one that really matters.