God of Possibilities

This year I decided I wanted to read about the Christmas story.  No not the one that is a made up tale that we all know “It was the night before Christmas….”  I imagine that when you read that you were able to finish it off yourself.  But that is not the story I wanted to read.  I wanted to look into history and as my friend Paul pointed out, read about His story.  So I grabbed my bible and started in Luke chapter 1. 

 

I read it with the expectation to see and find nuggets of truth and value.  I was not disappointed. Just a few verses into the chapter I met Zachariah. He was a Priest you see who honored God. God found Him to be a man that sought after Him and he was righteous in God’s eyes.  Both Zachariah and Elizabeth were praying for a child. They were married for many many years and no baby came from their union. By the time I met him, he was an old man. I imagine that he had ceased praying. The people had labeled Elizabeth as Barren.  They were childless and that was life as they knew it.  Things were about to change. 

 

As Zachariah worked in the temple, he was visited by an angel that would change his life forever and ours.  You see, Gabriel came to give him news that was unbelievable. It was impossible to say the least, but we know that with God all things are possible. J

Gabriel told him that his wife Elizabeth would be pregnant with child and bring forth a son in God’s timing. This child was to be the forerunner for the Messiah, the Savior of the nation and the world.  He would call his name John.  WOW!  Zachariah was floored. He questioned the possibility of this being true. He looked at himself and considered it beyond possible – even for God.  He forgot that his very ancestors, Abraham and Sarah were icons of God making the impossible possible.  He forgot that the very nation of Israel was from that miracle. God turned barrenness into fruitfulness, disregarding medical diagnosis, defying reason and bringing about a promise that He made to Abraham years and years ago.

 Zachariah had ceased perhaps ceased praying for a child with Elizabeth and he just did not believe anymore.  He had given up on this prayer ever being answered.  Gabriel muted Zachariah and so often I wish God would do that to me.  He did it because Zachariah did not believe. His mouth would have been a dangerous weapon, spewing doubt and fear.  So it was an act of mercy on Gabriel’s part in my eyes. 

Are you with me on this?  I see myself in this story.  Are you?  Have you gotten to the stage where you have given up on that prayer request(s)?  Don’t.  Don’t trade faith for unbelief.  Don’t trade hope for resigned despair. So here is the question, “is there anything too hard for God?” And you say…? All things are possible with God.

 

Anticipating God's Good and Perfect Gifts

Today on the Embrace Prayer Line the devotion was about anticipation.  It’s Christmas and for most of the world we celebrate the time by giving gifts to each other. The speaker described how as a child, she and her sister anticipated opening the gifts that were under the Christmas tree.  She described what most of us might remember ourselves – the waiting with held in breath, the receiving and the tearing into the package because you can’t wait to see. Sometimes it would be something that you wanted and the excitement continues. Other times you would be disappointed because that is not what you desired and it would be like a pin stuck in an inflated balloon.

 

What are you anticipating?  What are expecting to happen this Christmas?  Or maybe you are living in the state of disappointment because what you expected to happen didn’t occur.  Maybe for you, you anticipate not hope but more doom and gloom. Maybe your expectation is that nothing good will happen now or in the next year.  Maybe you have found that for you, the only thing that you think comes is misery and pain.

 

May I tell you something?  I know of someone whose gifts are always good and perfect.  I know of someone who gives you just what you need.  You guessed right if you said God.  He is the giver of all good things. The bible says in the book of James 1:17 that “¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” 

 

If we put our hope in God, we will never be disappointed. We can anticipate His good and perfect gifts and know that He will deliver.  I urge you however, not to say what He didn’t and then make Him out to be a liar.  Sometimes we put a time line on when He should deliver.  God has told me many times that He is not a Genie.  It is not in our timing but in His perfect time that what He says will be accomplished.  His words are true.  So go ahead and hope again; go ahead and anticipate His goodness, His perfect peace, His strengthening Joy, His perfect will and definitely His good and perfect gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Life is Worth Living

There is a song that came to mind this morning.  It talks about a relationship that is broken between a man and a woman. In it the woman says “I can’t live, if living is without you.  I can’t live, I can’t live anymore.”  The lyrics caused me to think about all those people that are not having a Merry Christmas.  I thought about how there are so many that are saddened by the season, about how many actually feel alone, about how some are depressed, about how for others there is a sense of hopelessness and despair.  I thought of the many that are cloaked in darkness, lied to by the enemy of God and man and fed thoughts of death. I can’t live anymore. 

 

I thought about you.

 

Just when I would have despaired myself, God replaced one song for another.  This song speaks of a truth that made me weep with joy.  This song was about hope. This song was about life.  This songs says that “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all my fears are gone.  Because I know who holds the future. My life is worth living, just because He lives.”

 

You may not be in the best place right now. Life is not easy nor is it smooth, but be encouraged today. Why? The One who knows about your tomorrow is holding your hand.  Your circumstances may not magically change but trust me God is not leaving you alone.  He wants to bring you His message of hope, not just for today, but for the future.  You are worth it to Him.  Your life is worth living.  Live in His Light my friend for Lo, He is with you.  Live and move in Him.

 

Acts 17:24 -29The Message (MSG)

^24-29 “The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?

"I see you" says God

Many years ago, I used to play with my son who was then a toddler a game of "I see you'.  I would cover my eyes and then remove them to look at him and say "I see you!"  For whatever reasons he would laugh and squeal with delight whenever I said that.  I play the same game with my now two year old grand-niece, and she echoes it back to me, I see you!  Hours of fun, with little effort.  As I wrote the title for the post this was the memory that came to mind. God is not playing a game as I was, but I also believe that He says to us the very same thing, I see you.


I have read in the bible about a woman by the name of Hagar.  She was the slave of Abram's wife, Sarai.  Over two thousand years ago she found herself in quite the predicament.  She was pregnant for her mistress' husband, and was running away from said mistress who was treating her badly.  Jealousy and contempt had invaded the camp, because someone decided to help God along with His promise.  For Hagar, it was a time of great distress and sorrow.


It was in this state that the Lord found her.  He encouraged her with his truth and grace.  He saw her.  This was important to Hagar and in Genesis 16:3 "...She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."  Hagar encountered the God who sees and was forever changed.


Today I want to once again remind someone that God sees you.  You could be the one sitting on the outside of everyone else, alone and in despair.  You could be ready to throw in the towel, hopeless and ready to exit the life you have right now.  God sees you.  God sees you right where you are, and He is saying to you "don't give up.  I am with you.  I see you."  He sees your heart.  He sees your sorrow.  He sees your pain.  He sees your desires.  He sees your secrets.  He sees all of you and still, he loves you. Right now, I believe that God has extended to you His hand and is saying once again, "I see you."

Choose Ye this Day - Jevaun's testimony

On my trip to Belize I met a young man who impressed me very much.  He was the only young man in our group of women young and old. We were loud and louder, singing and laughing in work or rest.  He was quiet and observant among us.  Yet I was impressed.  He was close to my son's age and I suppose that was the initial thought when I met him.  He could be my son, and here he is choosing to leave his country to go on a mission trip, with no promises of luxury to help those in need.  I was impressed.


He was asked to give his testimony one night at a youth service being held on the "campus".  I didn't know what he would say.  I summed him up as a boy who was always in church.  I waited with everyone else to hear him speak, and this was what he said:

"It was a Friday night and I had nothing to do. So I called my cousin and said what's happening today he said nothing.  So we agreed to meet up in my area to hang out and smoke like any other regular day. We headed to the skate park to go and smoke.  He was bragging about how this weed was straight from Jamaica and his other cousin hooked him up. I knew the other cousin and how much he was involved with these type of... I don't know what to call it [contraband]. But 20 minutes into the smoking we decided to go to the store & get a drink. I was going to buy a drink, that I had enough money for, but I then thought to myself, what if these price goes up...well everything goes up...the cost of living goes up. How are we going to survive if everything keeps going up and our incomes stay the same & on top of that jobs are declining . What do we do? 

I was talking to my cousin about this as he just stood there and listened. I said we cant steal, we can't murder, cause all those things are against God, and we believe in God. Then I said either we surrender or stay on top.  By that I meant, stay on top and keep getting money no matter what to keep up with these prices OR surrender to God and live for him because even if we had all the money in the world to stay on top we were still going to die and it wouldn't mean a thing. 

That was what set  me straight for the past 3 years, although I never stopped smoking right away. Live for something that will benefit you for something that WILL come or live for what you want and suffer the consequences."

I asked him to write his testimony for me because I believe that it will encourage you.  For me it is a story of hope.  In a weed induced high, God spoke to this young man.  God called him out of the smoky haze that was his life and into the clarity of His son Jesus.  He called him a young man, and showed him how to keep his ways.  He did it for Jevaun and He can do it for my son and yours and you.  He can rescue you out of wherever you find yourself today.  He loves you that much my friend.  He loves you that much. Let me echo J's last statement, live for something that matters and is sure to come in the person of Jesus Christ, or for your self and suffer the consequences of your choice.  Choose ye this day whom you will serve, will it be God or Mammoth. 

I am a new creation!

Yesterday I spent the whole day painting.  As I painted God gave me an object lesson.  His classroom is every where and any time.  My walls had some cob-webs on it and some dust.  Quite unaware, I put my brush in it and it smeared the wall.  I didn't see the dirt until it was too late. 


In my mind I could see how this was just like sin.  In the hidden crevices of our lives, seemingly harmless but really deadly.  The dirt and cob-web were there for some time, but up close to ceiling no one had noticed it.


I came down from the ladder and continued painting.  I painted one side of the wall and it was then I noticed the filth on the other side.  The wall was blackened with dirt that I never noticed before.  I couldn't believe it was that dirty.  I told my Mom, all this time we were living in a dirty home that we didn't see. It was not noticeable until the freshly painted side made the difference impossible to not notice.


When Jesus' blood started to cleanse me, I became aware of the filth inside of me. I started to notice what was always there and what was always wrong.  I now knew what was wrong because righteousness was now in me.  Praise God.


Friends, God is able to make us clean.  We do not have to remain as my house was, with dirty walls and hidden cob-webs.  Just like a coat of paint made my house look brand new, the blood of Jesus is able to make us a new creation.  The old man is passed away and I am born again!

Miracle on Palmolive Street

If you were to scroll through the pages of this blog, you would see many posts about my little sister Kal.  You would see her journey through health issues that has been amplified by multiple car accidents.  You would see how she went from being an independent young woman, to a dependent aged woman.  You would see how her body refused to support itself and forced her to use a cane, then compelled her into the decline of a walker. You would see how she gained almost another person in weight.  You would see how she lost her ability to work and how the insurance companies has denied her support. You would see how she had to move out of her house in order to live with others who could help her with even the most basic and simplest of tasks.  You would see, and you would know, the reason that I say God does miracles.


The first miracle was my sister leaving the house, for something other than a doctor's appointment or medical tests.  She asked me to take her to church!  What is the big deal?  She didn't want people to see her. She was self-conscious and spent her days hiding in the basement of my house. Somehow, God renewed her mind and we went to church, wheel chair, crutches, walker and everything else but the Kitchen sink.


The second miracle was her being able to drive in a car that was not her Lincoln NAVIGATOR without extreme pain.  I hated driving her anywhere, (in any car), prior to this because it was so stressful. I hated to see her in pain, and she was constantly fearful of being in another accident.  Those accidents didn't physically take her out of this world but for a long time, she was not really in it.  Somehow, God healed her body, and she was able to manage the pain in her back. 


The third miracle I will detail really rivals all others for top place.  It overrides everything else, because through this she will walk (literally) into her tomorrow that God has promised.  My sister is able to walk unassisted, maintain her balance and her weight!  It is the cause for shouts of praise in my house. We have lifted off the roof with shouts of joy!  We sing out loud Freedom! No more shackles and no more chains! (Eddie James).  We know that this work in her, is all due to God. We are also confident that the work he started He will complete it.  We take nothing from Him, but we give Him all the praise. He did this for us and He can do it for you.




I AM NOT writing this for myself.  I already know what happened.  I see her everyday and am very much aware that she is a living testimony to God's mighty hand and His healing power.  I know him now, more than I did before.  I have seen through my sister, the many signs and wonder.  So I am telling you this truth,  God still does miracles!  I have heard it from the pulpit, that such things no longer happen.  I have heard men who are called of God, reason out a miracle, and attribute the credit to a man.  Today I am here to say that God is not limited to anything, He can and still does work miracles in our lives.  It happened for us. It was a moment called suddenly. One minute she was dependant on the walker and then suddenly she took off without it.  To God be the glory, great things He has done!

It is well because God is in it!

This week on the Women of Embrace prayer line, the devotional theme is "It is well".  Today, someone said something that caught me - "it is well, not because of us, but because God is in it."  How freeing that one line was for me to hear.


Many times, I work myself up into a frenzy trying to make my situation match my declaration of "it is well".  I want to be credible to those that are witnessing my life and it is not easy. Some things, if not most things are beyond my scope of control.  I can't make my son stop smoking, or have him stop hanging out with his friends every waking moment; I can't make my bank account more rich; I can't take the cancer away from my nephew; I can't resurrect my friend's dead son; I can't change a lot of things.  Yet, it really is still well.  It is well because God is really in it with me.


It is well because, as one friend says, God knows the end from the beginning. It is well because God already has His plans and He knows what he is doing.  I am reminded of the children of Israel, when they were in Babylon. God told them, through Jeremiah, Trust me, I know what I am doing. I know the plans that I have for you; plans that are set to prosper you and give you a hope and a future.  It is well, because God is in the midst of the darkest day you could ever live.  He is with you when no-one else quite gets just how awful it is and how afraid you really are or how uncertain of the outcome you are right now. It is well, when you go through your day of sorrow, whatever that may be.  It is well because God is in it.


So be encouraged my friend.  Whatever you face has an end.  Even when God doesn't answer the why we sometimes ask, He is still worthy of our trust.  He is still worthy of our praise.  His covenant of love remains with us....it is well.

Why God?

Why God? 

Why choose God?

Why live for God?

Why God?

This was the question posed to us yesterday morning, the very last day of September.  It was one that I focused on throughout the day and caused me to reflect over my life.  I turned 40 this September and I had a lot more events to reflect upon than I did at 20. 

At 20, I was young and ready to embark upon an exciting life. I was promised marriage by my son’s dad. I was promised his love.  I was promised the fairy tale ending of happily ever after.  That didn’t materialize for me.  As a matter of fact, the promises were rescinded and another person took my place.  I say this not to put anyone on blast, but to answer the question of “Why God?”

It took seven long years to get to a place where I could stand up, and feel good about myself again.  It took God pouring healing oil into my wounds that would fester and sore and gush with anger, un-forgiveness, bitterness, blame and sorrow.  It took God to hold me up when I wanted to curl myself into a ball and die.  It took God to whisper his very own sweet words of love into my heart, so I could heal.  Why God? I learnt that he never leaves you.  He never tosses you aside for another.  I will never leave you nor forsake you says the Lord.

At 30, I was the Mom of a 10 year old.  He was feeling the sting of his father’s absenteeism and I was feeling the guilt of not being enough for him.  I was looking for approval and a Dad for my son, and found instead more empty promises from the mouth of men.  I ended up in a relationship that was one sided.  I wanted the forever after and he wanted someone to use.  So I was the help mate without the covenant of marriage, until I was once again replaced by another.  Why God?  I learnt that as much as I was never going to be enough for my son or any other person, God was the more than enough that I needed.  His grace was sufficient. His riches was more than enough. My grace is sufficient for you says the Lord.

At 40, I am the woman that stands in the wonderful presence of a God who is mighty and tender all at once.  He is my love and my all in all. He is the fulfillment of promises made over the last two decades. He keeps his word.  His covenant of love remains over us.  Why God? He never fails.

Weeping is only for a night

Have you ever felt like your world is crumbling?  Have you ever felt like the bottom has fallen out and you are left dangling in mid-air?  You are not alone, even though that may be your feelings.  You are not alone.  Thousands of years ago, there lived a man named David who could relate to what you are going through.  He was persecuted, in despair, pressed and endured hardships.  Yet, he leaves us with an encouragement in the Psalms.

In chapter 30 of the Psalms, he extols the praises of the Lord.  He recognizes that it was the Lord who was responsible for his help.  The Lord healed him. The Lord kept him alive.  The Lord favored him.  He was able to recount the goodness of God and encourages us to give thanks at the remembrance of His Holy name. 

David tells us from his own life that our mourning is not forever. It has an end and soon joy will come in the morning.  Do you feel like your night is stretching into forever?  Look up and see the hand of God.  You only have to endure for a moment.  Soon enough, you will be dancing, clothed with gladness and singing praises.

My friends, I do not know what you are facing right now, but I believe that God can do for you as he did for David.  He is a God who answers prayers; seek His face for yourself and see his goodness.  Then you too shall join us in our songs of praise “Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good!”

 

 

Don't Quit. Endure.

Jesus endured the cross for us.  The bible says he was beaten and bruised.  He was spat on, laughed at, jeered, mocked, nailed to a cross and pierced in his side.  He endured all of that, choosing not to quit; suffering long so we could join him in the victorious end. 


What does that have to do with us? Don't you see?  We also need to endure.  Don't quit.  Let me be transparent; I am one of those people who complain to God often in my prayer time.  When I say often, I mean more times than I think is really warranted.  I do that usually because I am going through some kind of hardship, difficult circumstances, unpleasantness, pain, sorrow or any other name you could think of right now.  You might say that I would love to have a "That was easy" button for my life.  I would like my life to be Utopia-like.  In reality I know that this is not what God has planned. He said in His very word that in this life you will have troubles.  In this life, rain falls on the just and the unjust.  In this life, Christians are not trouble exempt.  We don't have a registered Heaven number that causes struggles to pass on to the other person.  As Christians we have our day of sorrow but with a twist.  We endure with the help of our Lord.  God told Joshua, be courageous and strong for I am with you, (Joshua 1:9).  He had to fight, but God wanted him to endure. not quit.


What does endure mean exactly?  I had to think about that for more than a second.  I really was not able to put together a definition so I did what you might have already done.  I googled it.  Endure means to suffer patiently.  It is to remain in existence; last.  It is synonymous with words like persevere, survive and persist.  Did you see that?  Suffer?  Patiently?  I can see when Jesus said not my will Lord, but thine be done.  How else will he be able to suffer patiently?  Yet, he did.  He endured, lasted, persevered and persisted in his obedience to the cross, grave and to the sky.


Let us do likewise and endure to the end.  We know even now that all that we go through is for a good end.  So let us not quit but endure to the victory of tomorrow.

Stepping Into My Tomorrow

“Anyway, all week you've been on my mind & I’ve wanted to send an email but I wasn't intentional as I needed to be.  How are you doing?  Sometimes I sense that you are absorbed with everybody else, but, how is Lando?  I don't know what’s happening with Lando but God knows so I lift you up in prayer.  Love you cus.”

 

This is the message that I received from my cousin this morning. I read it and immediately teared up because there was so much truth in her observation.  I am absorbed with everyone else and if I am honest, I don’t even know how to answer her question.  I don’t even know how I am doing outside of everyone else. 

 

This morning before this email, as I was praying to God, I scared myself with the intensity of emotions that came to the surface.  I was praying about myself and I believe it was God’s Holy Spirit who led me down a path that I was not even aware was there.  I say this to say that maybe my compulsion to wrap myself up in everyone else’s issue is really about not dealing with my own. Perhaps, and I can think of at least one person who might agree, this is an avoidance mechanism that I use to hide.

 

Hide from what do you ask? Hide from the past, the present and the future.  Hide from the choices I made that causes me to reap the consequences today. Hide from the pressures that I feel want to squeeze me dry. I even found myself hiding from the mail, because I didn’t want to figure out the bills.  Hiding from the responsibilities that I have chosen to take on and now overwhelm me by their greatness.

 

As I am typing my thoughts down, I keep hearing “that was yesterday”.  For me the yesterday was right up to 8:30am this morning. God has already been dealing with me, and He has said no more hiding behind other people.  Hide in my Shelter, in my refuge, in my Fortress.  This morning he asked me to do something that didn’t make sense to me in the natural, but the spiritual implications are huge!  Make an outline of a door and step through it to the other side. 

And so I did.  I made that “unseen” door and walked through it.  I stepped into my tomorrow and everything before that was now my yesterday! 

 

Bless God somebody!  He has people praying for me, like my cousin and so my heart was already prepared to hear Him and my obedience was without question.  I believe with all my heart that I am already okay.  I am echoing the Psalmist, (some say Moses, some say David, I say whoever), He is my God, I will trust Him!

 

 

 

 

He who dwells in the Shelter - Psalm 91

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You have probably read this chapter many times over the course of your life, as have I.  Psalm is a staple to us, and rolls off the tongue as easily as Psalm 23.  Today however, I discovered that I have done such an injustice to God’s word.  I have allowed myself to become familiar with it.  Familiarity breeds contempt and for me, I see where knowing this Psalm closed my eyes from seeing its power.  There is richness and depth to be had, if only I had taken the time to study the word – this word.

 

Thank God that today He brought this word to the Embrace prayer line and the speaker and participants, led by Holy Spirit, highlighted what I have missed.  I was enlightened and thank God for his revelation. If we dwell, (live, inhabit) in God’s shelter we are promised everything that comes after verse one to the end at verse sixteen.  This is the condition that we often miss as we “recite” these words. One person has said this, we want the blessing but not the “blessor”.  We want the benefits but not the One who benefits.  However, we cannot reap the benefits without being in the house of the One who promises these things. 

This morning, the third morning of going through this chapter, it was told to us that God has gone beyond us dwelling in his shelter. In the New Testament book of John 15:4, he says He will dwell in us.  He will be the Greater in us that is greater than he who is in the world.  He not only protects us from the external things – the arrows, the pestilence, the diseases and so on but He keeps us from the inside. The speaker rightly says, when the chaos is around us, we have the peace within.  He is within us. 

I could go on about this word. It is good food and I am glad that He has prepared it for my consumption.  Therefore, I am hoping that this will whet your appetite enough that you will go for more. That you will open up that word and see for yourself what His spirit will reveal.  The word is alive and always rich.  I invite you to send me an email and share with me your findings.  Until then, may God bless you all!

The WORD of God NEVER Fails

I have been reading through the book of Joshua, reviving the story of the Israelites in my mind. I am finding all these great nuggets of truth that has been like booster shots to my soul.  Joshua 21:45 states that “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel.  All came to pass.”

 

When I read this, my eyes feasted on the word “word”.  I started thinking that everything that God spoke – even the nouns, adjectives and prepositions reaped success.  The Word never fails!  The bible says ALL came to pass!  We skip over these words that have few letters thinking that their meaning is insignificant. However, I urge you to think about it – ALL.  What does it mean when we say “all”? 

 

As a noun it is “the whole of one’s possessions, energy, or interest”. As an adverb as it was used in this verse it is used for emphasis.  It is emphasizing “the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing.” (ONLINE DICTIONARY).  In my own words, “All” means everything.  Not a single word that he spoke to the house of Israel was left incomplete. Every word spoken was accomplished. It was ALL (wholly) done.  It accomplished God’s intent - success. 

 

In this instance, the word spoken was the promise of land to the house of Israel. The land that was flowing with milk and honey. The land that was inhabited by “giants”.  The land that was promised to the Fathers who died having not received but believed even to death.  God promised and he delivered.  They went through war – they fought but at the end, there was rest.  All came to pass.

 

Today, I write as an encouragement to you and to myself that God’s word to you will never fail.  How can it?  His WORD became flesh and walked among us and did as He intended. His WORD remains alive in us today and it guarantees SUCCESS.  Friends, not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of __________.  All came to pass.  Hallelujah and AMEN!

 

I will be found

It was a Saturday.  At least when I began the journey it was Saturday night, until I drove right into Sunday morning.  Five times a week I drive my son to work; I believe they call it the grave yard shift.  The challenge for me is wanting to sleep on the way home.  To counteract I use music as a way to occupy my mental space until I throw the car into the drive way and get out.




On this trip I heard a new song.  My ears were immediately pleased by the lyrics.  It had me at the first line:




"I would take no for an answer
Just to know I heard You speak
And I'm wonderin' why I've never
Seen the signs they claim they see
Are the special revelations
Meant for everbody but me?
Maybe I don't truly know You
Or maybe I just simply believe"
(Read more: Chris Rice - Smell The Color 9 Lyrics | MetroLyrics)


I started thinking about so many others who must feel this way about their relationship with Christ.  Sometimes we as Christians inadvertently cause others to feel inferior because they have not felt, seen or heard what we might have experienced.  I say "we", because I am really looking at myself right now.  I am looking at my actions and how they might have caused someone to question their relationship with God.  How I might have caused someone searching for God's face to stop, feeling inadequate or any such feeling.  We laud our Christian encounters over others at times and I know that is not what Christ intended.  For that matter, I am choosing to believe, that is not what we as Christians intended either.  For me, these words song to a catchy tune made me introspective.


The song continues and I thought I heard him sing




"But sometimes finding You [God]
Is just like trying to smell the color 9
Smell the color 9"




What?  What was that he said?  He did just sing Smell the colour nine.  This song was getting better and better. In my mind I thought, how very clever to say what he meant.  It was hard if not almost impossible to create those experiences that other people have spoken about with God.  For some it is very difficult to "find" God.  They have never heard him or felt him and they wonder.  They begin to question their position with Christ.  They wonder if they were ever "saved". 


As the song began to end, I thought " but nine is not a colour and even it was you can't smell it!"


Just as a I thought it,  he sang the words.




Sometimes finding You
Is just like trying to
Sometimes finding You
Is just like trying to smell the color 9
Smell the color 9
9's not a color
And even if it were you can't smell a color, no
That's my point exactly



That was his point exactly.  I burst out laughing.  Word for word he repeated my thoughts and answered me.  Nicely done!


I do want to say that while we can't have other people's calling, feeling or anything else that they have had with Jesus he can be found. It doesn't have to be like smelling the colour nine.  It can be just like smelling the roses.  He promised us that if we seek him with all our hearts he will be found.  He will not hide His face.  He will answer you when you call.  So while Chris' lyrics were funny and thought provoking the truth is without error:


12'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD....(Jer. 29:12 - 14).

And when you pray

What is it?

How many times has someone asked you what is prayer?  In my life time, I can’t say that this has been a popular question.  I am often around kids and somehow they understand what I mean when I say “pray”.  Whether Christian or Hindu, Muslim or Atheist, everyone understands that word.  Yet, I think it is worthwhile to look at what prayer has defined as by others:

Matt Slick wrote that “Prayer is the practice of the presence of God.  It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made.  Prayer is the place of admitting our need, of adopting humility, and claiming dependence upon God.  Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian.  Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope.  Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord.”

Randall Niles explains “Prayer is our direct line with heaven. Prayer is a communication process that allows us to talk to God!”

Joyce Meyers echoes what most of us would have answered if asked, “Prayer is simply conversation with God. It’s asking Him to meet your need or someone else’s. It’s praising Him and thanking Him. It’s about committing things to Him and consecrating things to Him. We need to pray about everything and anything.”

In the 2009 Minister’s Manual, prayer is defined as a “…positive alternative to a world out of control….  Prayer is all of life lifted to God – the developing comradeship and intimacy with the Father….the greatest work of the heart.”

Why do it?

To say that we pray because we need to is an understatement.  How simple of an answer could that be, yet it is powerfully true. We are living in a world that appears to be out of control, (our control that is), and so prayer is essential to affect change.  James ended his letter by asking,

 “Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray….Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the      elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.     And the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up….  Confess your      trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective,        fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:14-16

In these verses, James explains a few of the benefits to prayer.  Prayer is the key to meeting needs.  The practice of prayer changes the circumstances you face.  Suffering people can find hope through prayer and see a difference; the sick can be healed; sinners can be saved.  Prayer avails much.

 “Prayer changes the one praying….”(Slick).  Some have said that it really is not about telling God what is happening, but it is what happens to us as we tell him the details of our lives.  Prayer brings us into intimacy with God.  The bible teaches us that as we draw near to God, He will likewise draw near to us. (James 4:8).   Sincere prayer brings us into his presence, combined with our praise and worship.  It is in the act of praying that we are transformed.  What does that mean you ask?  In prayer, we allow ourselves to be transparent and vulnerable. We bare all, becoming naked before an all seeing God.  In that time, we are changed.  We may start out with our lists and our opinions but in fervency we get to the “not my will but thy will be done” end.  Matt Slick wrote that “…in prayer, you are in the presence of God as you lay before Him your complete self in confession and dependence.  There is nothing to hide when in quiet supplication, we are reaching into the deepest part of ourselves and admitting our needs and failures.  In so doing, our hearts are quieted and pride is stripped, and we enjoy the presence of God.”

 We pray because without prayer we cannot foster a relationship with God.  Prayer, in my mind, is an act of obedience to God, which is better than any sacrifice we could offer.  His word, which He watches over to perform and holds up even higher than His name teaches us to:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7).

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thes. 5:17).

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (Col. 4:2).

“…Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” (James 4:2).

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matt. 21:22).

 

How to do it?

Many people are aware of the basic meaning of prayer, however, that number shrinks when it comes to the how.  We are then left with a large group of people who would like to pray but shy away because they say “I don’t know how.”

This may be an expected response outside of the church among non-believers or perhaps seekers.  However, that same response is coming from the person seated in the pew next to you.  It reminds me that we perish indeed because of lack of knowledge.

We have allowed ourselves to believe that prayer is a formula that only a few are made aware of, or that prayer has to be at a certain decibel or, it must be filled with multiple bible verses to show that we have rightly studied the word of God.  Some say “I don’t know what to say.”  Whatever the reason, many people are intimated or frightened to silence when it comes to praying.

The truth is God’s throne is made accessible to all who will come to Him.  His invitation card clearly states that we:

• Pray with confidence

            “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find             grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16).

            “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Eph.               3:12).

• Pray God’s word

          “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for                   you.” (John 15:7).

• Pray in faith

        “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be           yours.” (Mark 11:24).
        “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that           is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6).

• Pray in Spirit and in truth

       “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,          but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Rom. 8:26).

My sister told me about her prayer time, in a desperate situation. She started out praying with everything she knew, but it was just putting words together with prepositions and pronouns.  The truth was missing, because in her heart she didn’t believe.  Eloquence might have been plentiful but faith was missing.  Doubt laced her words and consumed her thinking.  She persevered.  She kept at it, not because God didn’t hear, but because she needed to hear and believe.  She prayed until she found herself believing the words coming from her mouth. She started to pray what God said about the situation.  His word was the inspiration of faith; faith in God.  She said “I prayed until faith rose up in me.”

When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane he prayed with such passion that his sweat was like blood dropping from his pores.  He was talking to the Father with such an awareness of his presence that it was as if he stood before him physically.  He prayed the same thing not once but three times because he was deeply distressed and troubled.  He said "My souls is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death...."  (Mark 14:34).  He prayed “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36).  In the end, he bent his will to the will of the Father.  He prayed until his hour had come. He prayed with fervency and passion. He prayed truthfully and was effective.

Mark 14:32-42 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Wow. We have all felt like that at times. That desperation and urgency. Jesus knows exactly what we are experiencing. He gets it and now, so do I.  I believe that doesn't leave us to flounder around but leaves us a template to follow saying
 

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matt 6:9-15).

 

Woman of Substance

A woman of substance has gone home.

A woman of quiet strength has finally found rest.

A woman of character, perseverance and hope has accomplished her ultimate goal.

A woman of zeal and passion for life has embraced victory and its crown.

A woman of love has been embraced by the One who is Himself Love.

A woman of who there is no duplicate, has endured to the end with grace and dignity.

 

Today we say good-bye, each in our own way, to this woman that we love.  She taught us many things, and it is our hope that we will live up to the legacy that she has left behind; love with your entire being, never give up and make Jesus your best-friend.  Thanks a million Clear/Mom/Friend.

 
I wrote this piece for my son's grand-mother who passed away this month.  I have never had the chance to say goodbye to someone who I knew was dying.  It is a surreal experience.  I called her that day and it was to be the last conversation we had on this side of the living.  She labored with every breath and words were no longer able to come from her mouth.  She could hear but her focus and energy was on living for that moment. It was a terrible time to hear and know all that I did.  Yet, I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to be there, via the phone, at just that time. 


I told her I loved her and I thanked her for her influence and all that she had done for me.  I said goodbye the only way I knew how and I will never regret or forget that moment.  I never had it with my Dad, my uncle, my grand-father or my friends who passed away.  So I know what it is not to have those treasured last words.  I know what it is like to live in the realm of "if only..." AND "I should have...".


This woman fought until her very last breath, never giving up hope for a miracle, even when the doctors said it was impossible.  She still saw a tomorrow, and died believing it was possible.  God was merciful, and I believe that she has no regrets.  She is with Jesus and I am sure she wishes she had gotten there sooner. I am glad for the live she lived.  Because she existed, my son was made possible.  She loved us, and showed us how much.


May I never forget my friend - Cleartilda Franklin.

God help me...I don't know what I am doing

Hi. My name is Engada and I don’t know what I am doing. 

I don’t know what to do about my increasing debt, my maxed out credit cards, my one third of a mortgage and my bank account that has been in the red for years.  I don’t know what to do about my church membership (or lack thereof), belonging nowhere and having no-one as my “head” ;  reporting my whereabouts to no-one, and having no-one looking for me to be anywhere. 

I do know that something is not right, and it becomes even clearer as the words are spelt out before me – black and white, no grey shadows here.

Today I am on vacation and I had not planned on it being a day of introspection.  I was reading a novel and something in it caught me, and forced me from the fiction of the character to the reality of my own life.  In the McDonald’s Café I began to wonder “what am I doing?”  My life is a mess and I know it fully well.  Where is the girl that would have been voted most likely to succeed?  How did I get here?  Where exactly is this place that I have found myself? 

I feel like my life is on pause and for some reason I can’t find play or stop.  Either one would do because it would be better than my current “stuck” position.  God.  Where. Are. You.

I am sorry for being melodramatic, but I know that someone else feels just as I do.  I know that you are also looking at your life and wondering what happened?  I am not alone, and neither are you.

As I sat there this morning, I prayed that God would just wrap me up in his arms and hold me close. I wanted to feel him next to me and have Him be like a Dad.  I wanted to just sit on his lap and bury my head beneath his chin.  I wanted him to say to me “There there, everything will be okay.”   

I wanted to feel like I was standing on solid ground, because right about now, I feel like the ground has been removed from beneath my feet.  Do you know what I mean?  Do you understand?

I feel a little like Rahab. She was a mess but she knew enough to know who could save her.  She knew the power of the God of Israel.  She knew that he was God of the heavens and of the earth. She knew that her own people were faint hearted at what they knew he could do.  She knew that she needed to be on His side. She knew that her safety was dependent on having that God, the true God, on her side.  She faced impending death and destruction – I would say that her situation was a lot more direr than my own.  Death was an outcome guaranteed without the help of the God of Israel.  She trusted that she would be spared and was bold enough to ask - or perhaps just desperate enough to take any risks.  So upon the word of the two spies, and her obedience to their agreement, she set about waiting for the walls to fall all around her.  She waited under the covenant of men who served a Mighty God, who could do the impossible.  She knew only this, God was able to save her and her entire family.   

I am breathing again.  A sigh has escaped me because I know something too; God can save me too.  He is still the God of heaven and earth.  He loves me, and with every fiber in my being, I love him back. 

He loves you too, and let me tell you this today, you will make it.  Somehow, someway, you will make it, by His strength and not your own – God will show you, and I, the way.  He will tell us what to do.