Bitter or Better: You Decide

By Bishop Samuel A. Wilson Sr

This book is 10 years in the making and was conceived out of watching the experiences of people, and the resultant effects of those experiences. As a theologian, Bishop Wilson, was able to capture or relate theses issues with Naomi in the book of Ruth. Do lifes negative experiences make us, bitter or better?

As individuals read this book, many bottled up feelings will become unlocked and freedom will take place as people honestly reflect upon how life experiences have negatively affected them. The good news is wherever one finds himself; this book provides not only a diagnosis of the problem but also a clear direction on how to get back on the right track in life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477287750

Bishop Samuel A. Wilson Sr

Bishop Samuel Wilson Sr. is the founder and pastor of Community Christian Fellowship Church for over 24 years and a former educator in the Detroit Public Schools. He holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Michigan Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing his doctorates at ARM Bible Institute. Bishop Wilson is married to Jackey (Lady J) Wilson since 1983 and to their union, they have three children: LaTasha, Shana and Samuel II. He is a nationally known speaker with a broad audience and has spoken to many audiences in the area of relationships, marriages, men and women groups etc., and has vast experience in cross-cultural and cross-generational ministry.

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© 2013 by Bishop Samuel A. Wilson Sr. 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.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/28/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-8777-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-8776-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-8775-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012920840

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.

Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 How Did I Get Here?

Ruth 1:1-3

Chapter 2 Mahlon and Chilion are Dead

Ruth 1:4-5

Chapter 3 There is Bread in the Land Again Good times, are God times

Ruth 1:6-18

Chapter 4 Don’t Change Your Name too Soon

Ruth 1:19-22

Chapter 5 Thank God for a new friend

Ruth Chapter 2

Chapter 6 Kinfolk Are Alright Sometimes Boaz-Kinsman Redeemer

Ruth Chapter 2

Chapter 7 Work Your Plan, Girl (Naomi and Ruth)

Ruth Chapter 3

Chapter 8 You Will Nurse Your Own Blessing

Ruth Chapter 4

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Mattie Montgomery (Grandma) who helped to raise me in the fear of God. Although she is no longer with us I’m sure she’s heavenly bound rejoicing at my accomplishments. I also dedicate this book to my church family, Community Christian Fellowship, the greatest church on this side of heaven!

Special thanks to my lovely wife for all her time, love, undying devotion and sacrifice toward my biblical pursuits, the many hours that she gave along side of me will never be forgotten by God. To my mother; Bobbie Matthews (a.k.a Mother Bobbie), thanks for the personal time you gave to helping us and the church family so that my lovely wife and I could personally dedicate our time to the Lord.

To our children; LaTasha, Shana and Sam (Daddy babies), wonderful children who taught us what parenting and pastoring truly is. Thanks for unselfishly giving me to my calling and to the will of the Lord, while working alone side to see it fulfilled. To my spiritual brother Pastor Willie Hill (Martha) who have kept me on the path of righteousness while I’m on this battle field.

Last but not least, special thanks to: Dr. James L. Morman (Loretta) who serves as my spiritual father and has been a tremendous inspiration and motivation to me completing this book.

To Contact the author:

Bishop Wilson may be reached at: HYPERLINK

"http://www.communitychristianfellowship.org"

wwwcommunitychristianfellowship.org

Or Community Christian Fellowship

8131 E. Outer Drive

Detroit, Michigan 48213

313-245-2925 /

fx 313-245-4390

Foreword

Before I met Bishop Wilson I met a number of great men and women of God but he is inspired with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and I knew that there was something different about him. Bishop is consumed with being an instrument for God. Bishop and I have had numerous conversations about being sold out to the Lord 100% committed to Jesus Christ. He said to me not long ago to be effective for God we need to die to ourselves. As I finish reading this powerful book, I have been blessed by how the Lord has used this man of God, to teach Godly principles and how to be full of God.

Bishop has blessed many people and will bless many more. He is dynamic, he is filled with the fire of God and his heart is set on winning the world to the Lord Jesus Christ. It has been my pleasure to be associated with this great man of God. And each time I am in his presence I am compelled to do more because of the fire that is in him. The spirit of God that operates in Sam is catchy. I know that this book will bless you tremendously because God is using Sam to teach us how to be better sons and daughters of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dr. James L. Morman

Introduction

These are the words of the women at home in Bethlehem when they saw Naomi for the first time after her horrifying experience in Moab. Could this really be Naomi? Yes it’s her. She’s back! They came to celebrate her return to Bethlehem, Go tell the neighbors; let’s throw a party! Let’s celebrate! Our friend, our relative; our girl is home! Wait a minute, says Naomi. (pleasant) Don’t call me by that name anymore. My name is MARA (bitterness). Because the Lord Almighty has dealt bitterly with me". Ruth 1:20-21. I came home with a major announcement. I couldn’t wait to get here to tell you my story. I’m mad! I’m angry! I’m bitter!

Now it’s one thing to be in the land of bitterness and be bitter. But how can you be back in the land of Bread and still be bitter? It’s because the spirit of bitterness is not content with afflicting you and staying behind in the place where he afflicted you. Have you ever seen a loaf of bread that looked good only to discover that after a closer look you discovered mole on it. That’s how it is when someone has bitterness in his/her heart while in the Promised Land. He (bitterness) wants to travel back home with you; he wants to become a friend to your friends; he wants to relate to your relatives; he desires to be employed where you’re employed; Her traveling companion Ruth, would be the only one that would have the testimony, where you go I will go; where you lodge I will lodge; your people will be my people; and your God will be my God.

The spirit of bitterness desires to have a long lasting relationship with us. It latches on to us as a root and it grows into a budding tree, with all sorts of side issues (thorns) growing from it. You can literally be back at the place of restoration and never experience the practicality of restoration. Naomi has made it back to the House of Bread and yet still rehearsing her brokenness. Regretfully many of us do the same thing. We marry ourselves to our hurt and then submit our identity to this new union by renaming ourselves.

Too many of us look for some scenario or circumstance to validate our name. If that circumstance does not happen in the timing that we desire we abort our name as if it was mistakenly given. But our circumstances don’t affirm our name but our name defines our circumstances. I have heard people respond to the question how are you today with the familiar answer I’m doing alright under the circumstances. Well that’s the problem right there. They are living under their circumstances. Their circumstances are defining, dominating, and driving them into a defeat mentality that will ultimately determine their destiny.

When is the last time you said, I’m sick and tired of living under my circumstances. It is high time that we make a decision to live above our circumstances. Can I announce to you that the self-image in you will bow to the God-image in you the moment you tell the real you to come