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01/28/2026

STIR UP YOUR GIFT by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

Timothy 1:5-7,"when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. [6] Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [7] For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

All of us have been blessed with gifts from God that we are expected to use to help lift humanity, expand The Kingdom, and bring GOD glory. Though the verses above are specifically telling Timothy to stir up of the gift of being called to the Gospel ministry, I don't feel it would be wrong to stretch Pau's words to include all gifts. We are all given gifts by God that God wants us to use to his glory.

You may have been given the gift of wrighting, singing, playing a musical instrument, comedic, or athletic abilities. You may have been given service skills,, office skills, technology skills, teaching skills, or business skills.You may have been given multiple gifts in multiple areas. It doesn't matter whether you have one gift or many, you have to constantly stir your gift.

Why do you need to stir up your gift? Let's look at why cooks stir what they have put in a bowl or a pot. We stir food to keep it from sticking to the pot. A gift that is not used and not practiced will just be stuck in you and it won't be seen by others, it want help anyone, and it won't glorify God. Secondly a cook stirs the food he/she is cooking so that that the ingredients are mixed together well. It takes flour, sugar, eggs, salt, baking soda/powder, milk, and extract to make a cake, but you can't make a cake without mixing all of those ingredients together thoroughly.(to be continued)

01/28/2026

STIR UP YOUR GIFT #2 by Pastor Maurice Washington
Maurice Washington

Timothy 1:5-7,"when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. [6] Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [7] For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

(continuation)You have been given ingredients in your life that need to be stirred together. Those ingredients that you have been given are both the failures and successes, the foolishness and the wisdom that you have observed in others, your own experiences both positive and negative, your education both secular and religious, your own natural ability, and above all your FAITH in Jesus. Stir these ingredients together so that you can make the best use of your God given gift.

Thirdly, stirring helps sauces and gravy to thicken. The old folks say, "Practice makes perfect." Yes God has given you a gift, but you need to practice your gift to make it stronger and better, and so that you are more confident in using your gift. Practice also entails observing others who have mastered their gifts. Sister Ruth Sauls of was truly the Queen of Gospel music in Austin. She was a master Muscian/Director and the young people who were mentored by her in turn became master Muscian/Directors. Many good preachers became better preachers by studying the greats such as Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Gardner C. Taylor, M. L. King,Jr, and Jeremiah Wright.

Lastly, stirring can change one substance into another substance. When cream is stirred(churned) constantly at room temperature it becomes butter. If you add vanilla or chocolate to the cream and stir(churn) it an extremely cold temperature, it becomes ice cream. The constant stirring of your gift can take your gift from mediocre to marvelous, from just good to great, from just being functionall to phenomenal.(to be continued)

01/28/2026

STIR UP YOUR GIFT #3 by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

2 Timothy 1:5-7,"when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. [6] Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [7] For God has not given us a spirit of fear,but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

(Continued)Let's look at some of the things that will keep you from stirring up your gift. The first thing is listening to what other people have to say, some of whom have no vision past the present. Then some of them truly don't mean you any good because they don't want you to succeed. They didn't do anything with their gifts, so they try to keep you from doing something with your gift. "Misery loves company."

Secondly, letting the constant pursuit of pleasure consume you will keep you from stirring up your gift. All of us absolutely need to have fun, but take care of business first. Give more time to polishing and sharpening your gift than you do to pursuing your pleasures. Give up just a little bit of your pleasure when you are young, so that you will be ready when opportunity comes knocking. Then when you are older and well established you will have a lot of pleasure.

Thirdly, comparing your gift to another person's gift can keep you from stirring up your own gift. Your gift is just that, "YOUR GIFT" and your gift is not supposed to look like someone else's gift.

Lastly, fear will keep you from stirring up your gift. All too often we let the fear of failure keep us from even trying to use our gifts. Sometimes it is the fear of leaving what is familiar, easy, and comfortable that keeps us from stirring up our gifts, but everyone who has achieved true success has had to leave their comfort zones. It has been said in essence that courage is not the absence of fear, but it is doing what is necessary in spite of your fear. My favorite presidential quote is "All we have to fear is fear itself," from President Franklin Roosevelt.

Paul tells Timothy to remember the great legacy of FAITH that was passed to him by both his grandmother and his mother and that faith will help him to stir up his gift. Furthermore, Paul tells Timothy that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
When Jesus saved your soul He also filled you with the Holy Spirit, which is the greatest power in the universe. CLAIM YOUR POWER!

Remember that in spite of all the negative things that people say about you, you are LOVED BY GOD. If you move in love for God, your neighbor, and yourself you will be successful.

Lastly, keep a sound mind. In this instance Paul is not talking about having a sane mind, but he is talking about having self-control, and using sound judgment(to be continued).

01/28/2026

“ STIR UP YOUR GIFT #4 by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

2 Timothy 1:5-7,"when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. [6] Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [7] For God has not given us a spirit of fear,but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

(CONTINUED) The original 2nd letter(Epistle) of Paul to Timothy was written in ancient Greek. Some foreign words aren't easily translated into English from other languages, so "stir" was chosen to used by the translators because to them it best fit what Paul was trying to say. However, when we look at the original Greek word in 2 Timothy 1:6 it means to "fan the Flame." "Fan the flames" implies God wants us to be passionate about being productive in our purpose. A great ministers will be passionate about proclaiming the good NEWS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, have a burden to see lost souls saved, will have a burning to help confused minds to be regulated and to see broken hearts fixed, a compulsion to stand up for liberty, justice and righteousness and to stand against, oppression, injustice and wickedness even when it is dangerous to do so.

You do not ever have to push,shove, and knock down another human being in order for your "star to shine brightly" If you are passionate about using your gift, then "your GIFT will make room for you"(Proverbs 18:16). You won't have use hook and crook or be sleazy to get to the top.

Most of all when you are passionate about your gift, it will give you a platform that you can use to lift up humanity and to glorify God. M. L. King,Jr used the pulpit of Dexter Ave.B.C to become the "Drum Major" for justice. Steve Harvey is a great comedian who uses his platform to talk about the goodness of God. Denzel Washington is a phenomenal actor who he uses his platform to glorify God. Deione Sanders, Russell Wilson, C. J Stroud, Stephon Curry, and David Robinson are great Athletes and they use their platforms to glorify God. Aretha Franklin was a great R&B singer, but her "AMAZING GRACE" Gospel album sold over 16 million copies, making it the best selling Gospel Album ever.

Stir up your gift. Fan the flame then watch God show up and show out in your life. Amen

01/24/2026

THE HIGH COST OF LIVING LOW" #2 by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

Psalm 38:4-6. “FOR MY INIQUITIES(SIN) HAVE GONE OVER MY HEAD; THEY WEIGH LIKE A BURDEN TOO HEAVY FOR ME. MY WOUNDS GROW FOUL AND FESTER BECAUSE OF MY FOOLISHNESS, I AM UTTERLY BOWED DOWN AND PROSTRATE; ALL THE DAY I GO ABOUT MOURNING"

Psalm 38:17–18,"For I am ready to fall,
and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
I am sorry for my sin.

In the story that JESUS told about the "PRODIGAL SON" in Luke chapter 15, the son literally left home to go far away, BUT it is important for us to realize that even though we may never leave home physically, it is very possible to go to the "FAR COUNTRY" with our sinful attitudes and behavior right where we are, even we when we are regular in our church attendance. Spiritually speaking the "FAR COUNTRY" is not about distance or geography, but it is about who each person is at his/her very core.

When ever we live our lives outside of the will of God we are in the "FAR COUNTRY" because sin separates us from God. You have seen people that are in the far country because their envy and jealousy keeps them from developing deep and lasting relationships. Greed takes us to the far country because to get more money we will live by hook and crook. When we are habitually promiscuous with our sexuality, we have gone to the far country.

When your attitudes and behavior causes the court to take your freedom from you and when you find yourself having to pay parole/probation fee, fines, restitution, and attorney's fees, you have gone to the far country. You are in the far country when your reputation or record keeps you from getting the job that you want. You are in the far country when you have left many broken hearts behind you simply because of your selfishness. You are in the far country when you have to pay child support to your baby's Momma/Daddy for a baby you weren't ready for, and to a person you can't get along with. You are in the far country when you spend most of your money, time, thoughts, and energy trying to feed a nasty and controlling habit. You are in the far country when you don't like the person in the mirror.

There is a high cost for low living, so stay with JESUS and His WAY. It cost too much to be in the far country. Amen

01/24/2026

THE HIGH COST FOR LOW LIVING by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

Psalm 38:4-6. "FOR MY INIQUITIES(SIN) HAVE GONE OVER MY HEAD; THEY WEIGH LIKE A BURDEN TOO HEAVY FOR ME. MY WOUNDS GROW FOUL AND FESTER BECAUSE OF MY FOOLISHNESS, I AM UTTERLY BOWED DOWN AND PROSTRATE; ALL THE DAY I GO ABOUT MOURNING"

Psalm 38:17–18,"For I am ready to fall,
and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
I am sorry for my sin.

These verses from Psalm 38 should be seen as a warning to us all, that there is a "HIGH COST FOR LOW LIVING" REAL TALK!

These verses remind me of the "PRODIGAL SON" mentioned in Luke chapter 15. Here Jesus tells a parable about a hard headed, pleasure driven, knucklehead son, whom I can imagine didn't listen to the advice and warnings of his parents, so the Father gave the son the money that he asked for and let him go.

After the son got the money he asked for, he left his his home, went far away, and spent ALL of his money on wild living with his low life friends, and the easy sleazy Hoochy Momma's who took him hard and fast for all that he had. He ended up working on a stinky hog farm and he saw the hogs eating better than he ate. "He now sees that there is a HIGH COST FOR LOW LIVING." JESUS said in essence, he came to himself and went back home humbly with a tucked tail. The parable of the "Prodigal Son" goes hand in hand with the Psalm 38.

Look at what it cost this young man to live lowly
A. Estrangement from his family
B. His dignity
C. Loss of finances
D. took him to places he didn't need to go
E. Made him do things he didn't want to do
F. Put him under subjection to a person he didn't want to be to be subjected too.
G. paid more than he should have paid in money, time, and energy.

The good news is, he came too his senses. Which simply means he remembered the love in his home and all that he had been taught growing up. The best news is that his father welcomed him home with hugs and precious gifts. That is GRACE.

There is a HIGH COST to living low, but you can avoid those high cost by living, as best you can, according to the Word of God. However, if you do stray from God's Word, God's grace is available to you too. You can always go back home to the FATHER'S loving arms if you come back in humility and repentance. NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN REJECTED!.REAL TALK!! AMEN!.

01/19/2026

REFLECTIONS ON DR.K.L.KING AND THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

Judges 6:14-16, "The Lord turned to him and said go in the strength you have and deliver Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" Pardon me, my Lord, Gideon replied. How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Mannaseh, and I am the least in my family. The Lord answered, "I will be with you and you shall strike down all of the Midianites...."

To today we pause to celebrate the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. and to thank God for Dr.King's legacy.

It was the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama that thrust the 26 year old Dr. King into the international spot light as a "Drum Major for Justice." When we reflect on the boycott we can see that God uses whom God chooses to use and Whom God chooses to use is often not the person we humans would have chosen to lead.

Mother Rosa Parks was just a quite, dignified, middle aged Black woman, who had just gotten off from her work as a seamstress. There was nothing about her that made her extraordinary except her faith in God and her dignity, yet she was the person God used to be a catalyst for change in this nation, simply because she refused to give up her seat on the bus to a White man. It was not her feet that were tired, but it was her soul that was tired of being humiliated.

When the leaders of the Black community decided to respond to the evil way Mother Parks was treated, they chose Dr. King to be their leader and voice. His choice is amazing because he was the youngest Black pastor in Montgomery, and he had not lived in Montgomery for very long, his church had just kicked out their last pastor because of his activism. Yet God chose him to be the Moses of his time.

We also see the power of cooperation in attempting to achieve a collective goal. The Black people stuck together, at a great sacrifice for some, to boycott the bus system of Montgomery and they won.
Lastly, we can see that the boycott was successful not because of celebraty influence, nor because they had a lot of money, but because EVERY NIGHT of the boycott for 380 plus nights they packed the churches of the Black community and prayed. Prayer changes things.

When we look at the scripture above and reflect on the events that propelled Dr. King into international prominence, we see that God doesn't "need a Star to be in God's show". What God does need is for YOU to be available, willing to serve even at a sacrifice, to be willing to cooperate with others in a cause that is much bigger than you are as an individual, and for you to pray both as an individual and collectively with others. Amen

01/18/2026

STAY ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington
(continued from yesterday)

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For broad is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter in it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

B. When you love your neighbor as yourself, even when your neighbor lives a lifestyle that seems sinful to you, or comes from a different culture, or has a different religion than yours.
C. When you have compassion for "the least of these" simply because they are human beings and they too are made in the "IMAGE OF GOD"
D. When you will speak out forcefully for both yourself and for those who can't speak for themselves against injustice, inequality, oppression.
E. When you walk in humility before both people and God.
F. When you will fight tooth and nail against any political agenda, ideology, or doctrine that espouses either White or Black Supremacy, the marginalization and hate for any group of people, including the LGBTQPLUS COMMUNITY, or any form of nationalism based solely on ethnicity or religion.

You are human, therefore, it won't be easy to continously keep your feet on the straight and narrow path, but if you keep these verses hidden in your heart you will not veer too far from it.

A "GOD so loved the WORLD that the gave his only begotten son, that WHOSOEVER believes in HIM should NOT PERISH, but SHALL HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."(John 3:16)

B. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your path."(Proverbs 3:5-6)

C. "Seek first the Kingdom of God and its rightousness and ALL these things will be added unto you."(Matthew 6:33)

D. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength, and the second is like unto it, You shall love your NEIGHBOR as YOURSELF," (Mark 12:30-31)

E. "...do justly, love, love mercy, and walk humbly with your GOD.” (Micah 6:😎

If you are intentional about engaging in worship, prayer, Bible study, and helping those less fortunate than you are, you will find the strength to keep "walking up the KING'S HIGHWAY" and the light that will illuminate your path. Amen

01/18/2026

STAY ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For broad is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter in it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

All of my life I have heard said in church, "STAY ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH", but what is written above are the actual words of JESUS. However, if you are a thinking person you will see that both the "old saying"" and the scripture are giving you the very same WARNING. They are both telling you that you can't have the kind of blessed life that God created you have, if you do NOT DO THINGS GOD'S WAY". Your life will be raggedy, fithy, and unfulfillling, if you choose to listen to the lies of the World rather than adhere to the truth that Jesus taught us.

Notice Jesus said that the narrow road leads to the small gate, which leads to LIFE. Jesus is ultimately speaking about eternal life with him in glory, but this scripture is also telling you how to have your best life here on earth. Many people are merely existing on the earth because they walk, talk, and breathe, but people who have real LIFE are full of love, joy, peace, strength, hope, faith, wisdom, compassion, purpose, and a passion to be productive in their purpose.

Many, many people think that because they adhere strictly to the ten commandments and all of the "You shall nots" in the Bible that they are on the straight and narrow path, yet in reality they are far from it. When you place cultural customs, traditions, and political agendas on par or above actual Biblical teachings, then you are no longer walking on the straight and narrow way. When negative attitudes go unchecked in your life you are no longer on the straight and narrow
You are on the straight and narrow path when:
A. GOD and the things of GOD are your HIGHEST PRIORITIES.

(to be continued)

01/16/2026

JUST BE FAITHFUL! By Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

Matthew 25:21," His Master said to him, "Well done good, and FAITHFUL servant. You have been FAITHFUL over a little, I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."

I can think of so many, many people who touched my life for the better, yet by the "STANDARDS of this WORLD" most of them didn't do anything that would be considered remarkable nor extraordinary. God doesn't require of any of us to be a remarkable or extraordinary human beings, but God does require of us "FAITHFULNESS."

What is faithfulness? Faithfulness is being reliable, steadfast in loyalty, a promise keeper, and someone who is committed to finishing a task. You don't have to have extraordinary talent or skill to be faithful. You just need a made up mind to do and to be what you said you would do, and to be who you say that you are. To be sure, however, if God has endowed you with extraordinary skills and talents, then God expects you to use those skills and talents faithfully for the up lift of humanity, and for GOD'S GLORY!

To be sure, there will be moments when you will feel tired, unappreciated, and misused in your effort to stay faithful over whatever God has assigned to you, but you must press on and remain faithful regardless to the negativity. There will be Sundays that you don't feel like going to church, but get up and go anyway. There will be times when you will help those in need, but they will show you little or no appreciation, but you keep on helping them regardless. You will find the strength to keep being faithful when you remember that Jesus is promising you a great reward for your faithness. That is what Jesus meant when he said,
"You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master."

KEEP THE FAITH! MUCH LOVE! GOD BLESS!

01/16/2026

CLAIM THE DAVID IN YOU by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

1 Samuel 17: 50,"David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him"

Except for the fact that David was a great, poet, lyricist, musician, and composer, there was really nothing extraordinary about David. The Bible says that he was the 8th and youngst son of Jesse of Bethlehem, and he was the shepherd of Jesse's sheep.There is nothing extraordinary about any of that. The Bible said that he was stunningly handsome, but that doesn't make him extraordinary either, because a lot of teenage boys are stunningly handsome.That is why we have so many, many teen idols on pin up posters, and the cover of teen magazines.

David wasn't extraordinary, yet when this untrained, teenager killed the Giant Philistine, Goliath, he did an extraordinary thing. The Giant resents all the things that stive to take away your God given freedom, dignity, humanity, and the ability to be all that you can be and to have all that you can have. The Giant represents addictions, human foes, institutions, oppressive governments, outdated traditions, and negative attitudes, both inside and out, that need to be conquered.

David represents all of the underdogs in the world who refuse to be kept down and I pray that you will claim the David in you, so that you can conquer your giants. When you claim the David in you, you are claiming an unwavering love for God. David had faith in God that he loved, and his faith gave him courage, wisdom, and the willingness to take a necessary risk. All of that is in David and if you claim it, it will be in you also, then you too will be able to conquer life's bullying giants. Amen.

01/06/2026

WHERE ARE THE WISE PEOPLE by Pastor Maurice Washington Maurice Washington

Proverbs 9:10,"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the HOLY ONE is understanding"

My Grannies were the wisest people that knew growing up. Momma Lois taught us that "your word is your bond and she would say, "you better come down off of your high horse",which means stop being arrogant and conceited. She would also say, "God don't make no mistakes"

Mammaw use to tell us "what goes around, comes around", "What's done in the dark will come to the light," "it will come our in the wash" which means the truth will eventually come out no matter how hard you try to hide it. Mammaw would say if you dig one ditch for me, you better dig two. The ditch you dig for me, just might be for you." The 2 most important things she use to say was, "God may not come when you want Him, but he never comes too late" and "take your burdens to the altar and leave them there"

My Grannies were wise not just because they said these things, but because they LIVED by them. My Grannies are gone now. The question is where are the wise people of 2026?
Frankly, I see a lot of raw foolishness around me, but I don't see much wisdom at all. We cared more about the high prices at the store than we did issues of liberty, justice, equality, and democracy, therefore, we elected a narcissistic, convicted crook to be president. Where is the wisdom in that? We see first first hand all across the globe the horrendous effects of global warming, yet because of both greed and convenience we are not doing all that we can to move from fossil fuel to renewable green energy. Where is the wisdom in that? We see the terrible effects that living an immoral life has had on others, yet we turn around and do the same sinful things, thinking that will be better for us. NOT! Where is the wisdom in that?

I am asking the wrong question? I should be asking where are the people who FEAR GOD. If you live in the FEAR of God, GOD WILL give you wisdom. Amen.

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