“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you…” (Jeremiah 1:5a, NIV '84)
By way of
this initial entry, let me take a moment of your reading time and introduce
myself to you. My name is Lalanda
Harrell, Founder & Executive Director of Arms of Grace Ministries and I am
a self-published author/minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During my 27-year ministerial history, I
have had the honor of assisting with the planting and establishment of two
churches, three para-church organizations, and lead mission trips both at home (in
the US) and abroad. I have served in
such ministerial capacities as Children’s Minister/Pastor, Executive
Administrator for Youth and Children’s Ministries, Administrative Assistant,
Singles Ministries Small Group Leader, HOST Team Member, and volunteer. However, with all of the titles and/or
accolades that I have ever received, my favorite (and what I tell everyone) is
that I am a follower of Jesus Christ…I am a Christian!
My
qualifications to sit and write or even stand before a group of people and
proclaim the message of the Gospel come from a Higher Source, for I have been
put to the test in private and found to be faithful to the One who saves,
delivers, and heals me from all unrighteousness. He is the One who keeps me when I don’t want
to be kept, and covers me when I don’t know I need a covering. He is the One who walks with me during fiery
trials and tribulations, and shields me when fierce winds and rain beat upon
me. I am qualified as a minister because
of a personal choice that I have made before God; a choice that I honor during
times of popularity and times of deep loneliness. I have chosen not to let go of the hand of
the One who can lift me out of any and all circumstances. I have chosen to walk with God, and He has
chosen to walk with me.
More than
anything that could be written within a single BLOG entry, the pages of a
newsletter, or any other printed publication, and/or that can even be said to
you in a face-to-face conversation, I pray that personal transformation will
take place in your heart as a result of what is presented and read – and that
in the end – you are prompted to live your life for the glory of God.
As I embark on a journey of
this caliber and try something NEW (or at least new to me), I invite you my new
found friend, to enjoy reading some of the material that I believe has been
given to me from on High via this weekly BLOG[1]. You’re also invited to logon to the Arms of
Grace Ministries website[2]
to read additional Biblically based testimonies, articles, downloads, to search
through our teaching aides, and practical application exercises and use the
material found therein during your personal Bible study and evangelical
outreach efforts. I also cordially invite
you to view and ‘like’ our Facebook page, for it is here that you will receive an
encouraging word to begin your day. And
if you are inspired by what you read and desire to share this ministry with
your family, friends, and/or acquaintances, please feel free to do so.
Whenever you
take a moment to connect with myself and/or this ministry, I pray that you not
only physically hear what is being said, but that you grow and mature by leaps
and bounds in your faith and encourage others to do the same; and together we
will touch people and change lives for the glory of God.
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