Embracing the Desperate Moments of Life: God Is in the Moment

By Archbishop Alfred A. Owens Jr. and Dr. Flo Morehead

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING DESPERATE MOMENTS?

Whether its discouragement, tragedy, despair, distress, dis-ease, job loss, sickness, foreclosure, divorce, or death of a loved one: any one of these has the potential to send you into a downward spiral. These very serious, urgent and dangerous moments of life may be of a short or long duration. This book was birthed out of the many desperate moments (death of father, mother and brother, heart attack, stroke, and divorce) that the author has experienced. It gives insight into how to handle the night seasons of our lives. Flo Morehead has encouraged, equipped and empowered thousands of people, both men and women, in how to live victorious lives despite the ups and downs of life. Even though the devil desires to use these moments to destroy you, God has another plan. You will learn how to embrace (accept willingly, deal with) the desperate moments, and put them to work for you in catapulting your faith to another level.

Dont try to escape - go through

Dont give in to the temptations - pass the tests

Dont listen to the voices of self and others - listen to the voice of God

Dont depend on human effort - depend on the Holy Spirit

Dont let it make you bitter - allow it to make you better

Dont turn to negative vices - turn to an all knowing God

Dont operate in unbelief - operate in faith

The good news is, God Is In the Moment!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456715595

Archbishop Alfred A. Owens Jr.

Pastor Cleveland Bates is a native of Chesapeake, Virginia, and a product of the Chesapeake, Virginia, Public School System. After graduating from Great Bridge High School, he continued his education at Norfolk State University in pursuit of a degree in business administration. Pastor Bates would continue his education sometime later, graduating from Nyack College in Washington, DC. With his degree in organizational leadership, Pastor Bates is currently pursuing a degree in psychology and counseling at Regent University in Virginia Beach Virginia. He is a graduate of Calvary Bible Institute. Pastor Bates is committed to serving people, whether in the pulpit or as an advocate of those who are disenchanted within the community. His commitment to excellence motivates him to always use every gift and resource God provides him. His love for the people of God causes him to reach out and love those who are deemed by others to be unlovable. Pastor Bates never meets a stranger but treats all people with dignity and respect. His favorite saying is People do not care how much you know, they want to know how much you care. A kind word and a pat on the back are his trademarks. He consistently shows the love of God to all people regardless of where he finds them. Pastor Bates has served as shepherd and leader of the Rose of Sharon Revival Center for the past seven years. Within the short time that he has served as pastor, he has made his mark on the Park Place Community. For the last five years, Pastor Bates collaborated with the City of Norfolk to provide an avenue for the youth of the community to display their talents and to empower the people of this community with opportunities to register to vote, to be tested for health challenges, and even a book giveaway, imparting books into the lives of the community. In addition, Pastor Bates unselfishly provides funding for other youth activities and is an advocate and counselor to many. He has and continues to develop many Timothies. He is an anointed deliverer of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and a teacher extraordinaire. Pastor Batess desire is to always be faithful to the task that the Lord has given him, to continue to grow in the knowledge of God, and to always preach the unadulterated Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor Bates served for more than twenty years at the Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church located in Washington, DC. During his time at Calvary, Pastor Bates was very active in ministry, serving on Calvarys audio ministry, singing with the male chorus and the Voices of Calvary Choir, serving as a deacon board cell captain, serving as cofounder of Bended Knee Mens Prayer Group, and as director of mens ministry for over ten years. In addition, Pastor Bates was a member of Calvarys evangelistic board before accepting the pastorate. Pastor Bates has recently accepted the appointment of international director of mens ministry for the Mount Calvary Holy Churches of America organization. In 2014, one of the many highlights of this powerful man of Gods ministry was, he was chosen as one of the top twenty-five inspirational leaders in the Tidewater Virginia area by Blessed Lifestyle Magazine. The Rose of Sharon church he pastors was nominated as church of the year. God is working through and in this anointed humble servant. Pastor Bates enjoys traveling and has had the opportunity to travel and preach in such countries as Israel; Lagos, Nigeria; Nairobi, Kenya; Barbados; Trinidad; Jamaica; St. Maarten; and the Bahamas. Pastor Bates is strongly supported by whom he affectionately calls his Barbara and five daughters and one son.

Book preview

© 2011 FLO MOREHEAD. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 2/18/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-1558-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-1559-5 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-1560-1 (dj)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011901320

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The scriptures are New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

This book is dedicated to my brother

The late Pastor Willie O. Thomas

Acknowledgments

Special thanks and gratitude…

To God who wouldn’t let me keep this inside

To my daughters, Erika & Sonya, my granddaughter Iyanna, and god-daughter Verne, who believed in me and kept me moving forward

To my sisters Lois, Rose, & Harriett who I love dearly

To my god-daughters Trina & Nay for giving me advice for healthy living

To Deacon Harristeen Barnes for her marvelous work of editing and proof reading

To the Elders (Bonnie, Ellen, Jeff, & Jessie) who labored with me in prayer

To my Shalom church family, you are the best

To Archbishop Alfred & International First Lady, Evangelist Susie Owens, Bishop Otis & Lady Brenda Floyd,& Revs. Drs. Grainger and Jo Ann Browning - thank you for pouring into me and sharing your wisdom

To my friend Rev. Evelyn Horne and mentor Bishop Carrie Surratt for being there for me.

Foreword

Dr. Florida Morehead is a true and resonant example of a survivor and an overcomer. She has accomplished a masterful feat with the writing and authorship of Embracing the Desperate Moments of Life.

I have an enormous amount of respect and pastoral endearment for Dr. Morehead and I am delighted to commend and share my acclaim on what I’ve found to be a powerful and needed tool. This book is destined to enlighten and empower those who are either combating discouragement, dealing with disappointment, trying to overcome distress or are found in all three criterions and more. As you seek to embrace any desperate moments that may be on the horizon, get ready to be equipped both strategically and tactically by the wisdom she so freely shares.

From the beginning and throughout the book Dr. Morehead does an outstanding job of breaking down and giving a revelatory view of what embracing really means and further clarifies moment. In her profound sharing, Dr. Morehead brings those who are fortunate to read this book, to the realization that God is in every moment.

Every Christian soldier faces his or her wars at some point, time and season in life and from those wars battle scars, wounds and war experiences are yielded. Dr. Morehead skillfully highlights strategies for dealing with those challenging and taxing times, that can often be equated to desperate moments.

I have often witnessed God, in His infinite wisdom, take the lives of Pastors, leaders and the like, and display their struggles and triumphs so that others can most assuredly know that God has no respect of persons. He readily gives life witnesses to show forth His love for us and His ability to cause us to succeed. As such, Dr. Morehead transcends all potential barriers and delivers a mechanism that demonstrates personal transparency, as she kicks-off the book sharing intricate details of her life’s testimony. To receive life survival strategies from one, who has personal experiences, makes for a real and relatable book.

In this masterpiece of an advocate for survival, Dr. Morehead carefully, with great resolve, sets out to categorically relay that, specifically for Christians, who desire to survive the desperate moments, this is attainable.

Throughout this book, Dr. Morehead shares many invaluable nuggets that I’ve deemed as useful tools and practical guidance. This book is undeniably written to help one: get a grip on fear and ultimately overcome it, find strength to offer a high praise in the midst of a low place, maintain the sanctity of peace, to be spiritually dressed and ready to destroy negative and contrary thoughts, avoid being a two-minded person, and rely on the ultimate helper (The Holy Spirit).

She has done exceptionally well in relating desperate moments to the trying situations that are resonating throughout society as we know it today. Considering the aftermath of recession, unemployment being at an all time high, continual foreclosures and so much more, Dr. Morehead reminds the readers that one must: allow desperation to launch you into God’s presence, allow faith to trump feelings and remember that God meets you in the wilderness places.

One of the most profound things about this book is how Dr. Morehead not only tells you what must be done, but she gives attainable steps to help you get there. She emphatically proclaims that through prayer God satisfies the hole in the soul and through the scriptures God sends a timely word for the tight spots.

I appreciate her perspectives and the clear and concise manner in which she gives way to caution on so many areas. She warns us that the desperate moments can bring the spirit of unbelief, yet shares the significant remedy of having a little faith in a big God. She encourages us to focus on the promise and not the problems, and encourages us to graciously embrace the steps that God has ordered and ordained.

You will be enlightened as she addresses perhaps the most impactful yet challenging concepts of all, and that is to realize that in those moments that are often hard to embrace, there is purpose in them, reminding us that God doesn’t allow us to go through for naught, but ensures that purpose will prevail.

From keep the process moving to remember giving up is not an option to her discourse about turning points, she has done a phenomenal job in addressing topics ordained to strengthen, restore, fortify, and prepare you for future desperate moments.

From the title and throughout the pages, Dr. Morehead sends a resounding message that will encourage you to embrace what God allows, rise above challenges, learn from past experiences, celebrate each victory and maintain the fighting posture needed to stay on the right track towards a perpetually successful journey.

Dr. Florida Morehead’s insight, throughout this book, will undoubtedly bring you to a place of hope and healing for your now desperate moments and/or those to come.

Prepare to be blessed!

Because of Calvary,

Archbishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr. D.Min.

Presiding Prelate, Mt. Calvary Holy Church of America, Inc.

Senior Pastor, Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church

Contents

Preface