The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd have challenged me in ways that I didn’t think possible. Ashamedly, I have seen and heard of similar events in the past but managed to somehow brush them under the rug so to speak, or better yet, ignore them and go on with my daily living. But this time it has been different. This time, the Holy Spirit has wrecked me over these deaths and the polarizing issues that they represent. I am not writing this blog today as an expert or educator on any level. This is not being written for political purposes nor do I have a political agenda. Last, but certainly not least, I am not writing as one who claims to know or understand the struggles these two African American men faced. My genuine desire here is to share my experience with a simple prayer that I earnestly prayed regarding all of the above. The prayer was simple and went something like this: God search my heart. Please show me any beliefs, thoughts, or ideas that I have that do not line up with your heart for my fellowman. Point out to me the things that I see and hear that do not line up with your purposes. I no longer desire to be part of the problem, I sincerely desire to be part of the solution. Not man’s solution, but YOUR solution.

To be honest, I wasn’t really ready for his response. As I share my journey with you it is my sincere prayer that it will challenge you the way that it has challenged me.  The only way for real change to occur in our hearts is for us to be continually challenged by the filter of God’s word. It did not take long for God to begin to speak to me. It was loud and clear that first and foremost God was calling me, as his representative on earth, to be part of the solution and NOT part of the problem. By this time I already had one big lump in my throat. Then three words began to flood my thoughts. Three words that I could not escape from no matter how hard a tried. These three words were dehumanization, pride, and repentance.  I knew in my heart that God was showing me that if these things were left unchecked I would completely miss his heart for my fellowman. At first, I couldn’t put the pieces together, but as I watched events in our nation unfold, God began to show me what he was trying to say through what I was seeing.

We live in a world that is given to the manipulation of our thoughts and thought processes. We see this happening more and more via media be it social media or the news media etc. For this reason, it is imperative that we, as the body of Christ, undergird our thoughts and minds with the one thing that is unchanging and undeniable and that is the truth of God’s word. Dictionary.com describes human as “ of pertaining to, characteristic of, or having the nature of people.” God’s word, on the other hand tells us in Genesis 1:27 that “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” In Jeremiah 1:5 God takes this a step farther and tells us that before we were ever formed in our mother’s womb God knew us and that we were set apart for his purposes. It is only when we see our fellow man through God’s eyes that we can properly respond with God’s love to any and every situation that we are confronting.

God has not called me to political agendas nor has he called me to social movements. While social movements often have good premise, they tend to take my focus off of the humans they represent. This focus on movements is the beginning of the dehumanization of those created in God’s image. Reducing humans to a “movement” allows me to separate myself from the pain endured by those that have been wounded. One example that God has shown me of this is many responses that I have seen to “Black Lives Matter.” Many respond with “All Lives Matter.” What is wrong with this response? Is it truth? Is it biblical? Yes would be the answer to all of the proposed questions but this response completely misses GOD’S HEART. God is showing me that the response that represents his heart would be a little more like this: I recognize and am sorry for your pain. What can I do to help you heal? Miriam Webster defines dehumanization as follows: to address or portray (someone ) in a way that obscures or demeans that person’s humanity or individuality. I have to ask myself am I getting so caught up in words that I am missing the heart? If I call myself a Christian and respond in ways that don’t represent God and his purposes I am acting as part of a problem and not the solution. The same holds true for the response “Nobody living today has ever owned slaves. Why can’t we just forget about it and move on?” I am so thankful that I don’t serve a God who tells me to forget it and move on when I come to him with my pain. He rather responds to me with grace, hope, and healing. Once again, the response that recognizes God’s heart would look more like this: I am so sorry for your pain and the pain of your ancesotors. Please forgive me. What can I do to help you heal? In Matthew 5:16 we read “ Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. May our responses always lead people to the light.

Secondly, God has called me in Micah 6:8 to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. The enemy of humility is pride. The word sin is derived from the Greek word hamartano. Hamartano is an archery term which simply means to miss the mark. I don’t know about you, but I miss the mark daily. There is never a time when I am completely free of sinful thoughts or actions and yet many times I take pride in the form of religious superiority. This can be seen when I  choose to see people through the light of their sin and deem myself as more worthy because the sins that I struggle with daily are not as “bad.”  Unfortunately, I have seen this on display daily on social media. I have seen many Christian’s respond to the recent murders by posting and speaking of the victims past criminal activity. This type of response puts one in the position of judge and jury and that is God’s position.  Satan is the accuser of the brethren and taking this type of position couldn’t be further from the heart of God.  Romans 5:8 reminds us that God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Seeing these responses to these two men’s murders has made me ever more cognizant of the fact that because of the great sinner that I am ,and have been, I deserved death, hell, and the grave but God in his rich love and mercy spared me of what I deserved and instead clothed me in his righteousness.

The final thing that God has been revealing to me is the need for me to repent. Repent not only for my sins of racism and prejudice but also for the sins of the nation as well as those of my ancestors.  In II Corinthians 7:10 we read “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. God is calling the body of Christ to repentance. No, we may not have owned slaves but our ancestors did. We may not be oppressing people but there are those in our country who are. We are being called to repentance for our nation. The need for repentance in this area may be more easily understood if it is compared to the issue of abortion. While many in the Christian community have never personally chosen to abort a child, we seem to have no problem crying out to God and repenting for the abortions committed today or in past generations.  Why? Because our hearts hurt for the babies crying out from the grave.  God is challenging us to remember the lives that are crying out from the grave that have been unjustly abused and many murdered due to the melanin in their skin.   Repentance is powerful tool. It is a weapon of warfare and God is calling us to use it for the healing of our nation. Forgetting is NOT the answer, repenting is and always has been the answer!

My experience may anger you, challenge you, or call you to repentence.  It is my sincere desire that it cause you to see every human being through God’s eyes.  May we replace pride with humility and live a life that is eagerly willing to repent for the sins of our nation. Ahmaud Arbery’s life mattered, George Floyd’s life mattered, and “Black Lives Matter!” They mattered so much to God that he sent his only son to die on the cross for each and everyone. Their lives matter to God so they matter to me! God forgive me for my thoughts and actions that don’t line up with your word. Forgive our nation and our ancestors for their sin and injustice and reach down from Heaven and heal our land! May I forever be part of the solution and may YOU continue to filter my thought processes through the light of your word.

Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com

It seems that these days we are all on a journey.  We are delving into unknown territory.  The covid 19 virus has left us attempting to charter waters with which we are unfamiliar. Waters that we are unprepared to navigate.   I don’t know about you but at times this pandemic  has left me feeling a little “down in the dumps.”   My pastor is currently preaching a sermon series called “Act Your Season.”  Recently, he preached on the DRY season.  I could totally relate.  My first thoughts, regarding the “DRY” season, were negative I must admit.   Simply by definition, how could something that is bare or lacking adornment be good? Right?

A closer look at scripture may challenge us to view the DRY season through a different lens. Being DRY is what often leads us to a place of longing for more. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (Psalm 42: 1) The deer would never pant if he did not at first thirst. When we think of  dry and barren territory, what most frequently comes to mind is the desert.  I’m sure if given the choice,  not many of us  would choose to reside in the desert. Why, because many of us see the desert in a negative light. We often see with eyes that cannot see clearly. But God, in his sovereignty, something beautiful in the desert.

In Exodus chapter three we see that God first spoke to Moses in the desert and again in Exodus chapters nineteen and twenty we see God giving Moses the ten commandments in the desert. If God choose to speak to Moses in this dry place could it actually be that it is in the DRY season that he desires to speak to us? Is my DRY season meant to be a place of despair, or is my DRY season meant to be a place of intimacy and connection?  Is it possible that God’s voice will be the loudest in an environment that is free from all distractions and noise?

I believe that my personal DRY season has left me  longing for a refreshing, longing for a drink that will satisfy and quench my thirst.  Longing for a fresh drink from the well that Jesus so lovingly spoke of in John 4:14  “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The question that then beckon’s itself  is this: Am I ready to receive the fresh visitation from the Holy Spirit that I say that I desire? Am I prepared for God to speak to me in new and refreshing ways?  It is one thing to have a desire and yet another to be willing to do what it takes to see your desires fulfilled.  As the church prepares to celebrate the day of Pentecost what am I doing to personally prepare?  To be perfectly honest, this is something that I have never really given a lot of thought. Why? Because at times I have deceived myself into believing that I fully trust God and am fully thankful for his blessings.

Pentecost defined by dictionary.com is the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciple of Jesus.  While the disciples were experiencing Pentecost, the Israelites were celebrating the spring harvest festival Shavuot.  There was much preparation that went into this celebration.  This preparation cannot be fully understood without a brief explanation of the “counting of the omer.”

As explained by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the omer refers to the 49-day period between the second night of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot.  This periods marks the beginning of the barley harvest when, in ancient times, Jews would bring the first sheaves to the Temple as a means of thanking God for the harvest.  According to Rabbi Jason Sobel, the counting of the omer daily, cultivated belief in God as the ultimate provider, gratitude for HIS abundant provisions, and was a way that one could learn to count their blessings.  In other words, this was a time period when in preparation for the giving of the word of God, one could learn to trust God for their provisions and walk in a life of thankfulness for the blessings that God provided.

If trust and thankfulness were necessary components for the children of Israel could it be that they are necessary components for Pentecost in my own life? In this time of uncertainty and change, I have found myself doing way to much murmuring and complaining.  Quite frankly, I am sad to say that I do way to much of this on a daily basis. I find myself challenged by what Rabbi Moses Alsich wrote: “Nothing estranges us from God more than the abundance of nature’s bounty.  It leads man to believe that he is independent, has created his own wealth, and leads to ingratitude vis-a vis the Creator, whose generosity has made nature’s bounty possible…Just as a father wants to impress upon his child that he must not take everything he receives for granted, so God impresses upon us that before we enjoy the bounty of nature, we must bring a symbolic offering to show God that we are aware of the source of wealth and well-being.  It is not our fathers who gave us this land, not merely our own toil that created the harvest, but God is behind it all.”

In more ways than one I believe that I have become indifferent to the abundance of “natures bounty,” in some ways estranged from God having cultivated patterns of distrust and unthankfulness in my life. If nothing else positive comes from the “shelter in place orders” one thing is for certain.  It has caused many to realize just how much we take for granted.  It is one thing to pay lip service where thanks is concerned and yet another to walk in an attitude of it.  Thank you God for the reminder that if I am to receive a fresh anointing, a fresh fire from your Holy Spirit, that I, too, must walk daily with a renewed sense of trust and thankfulness.  Forgive me for where I have failed in these areas and continue to remind me when I fall short. I desire to live a life that displays a trust in YOU as my ultimate provider.  I desire to have a heart that reaches a new level of thanks for the blessings that you bestow upon me daily.

As the church prepares for the celebration of Pentecost, I, too, will  prepare. But this year will look a little different for me. This year, with God’s help,  I will examine my thoughts and actions and challenge myself to  prepare my heart daily to trust and be thankful.  On our journey for PPE, may our new sense of awareness to put our trust in God our creator prepare our hearts to receive all that he desires to bestow upon us! I am eagerly awaiting my Personal Pentecost Experience!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a spring morning much like many others.  The sun was coming up over the horizon and the light of a new day was dawning.  The fields were green with their crops standing firmly from the overnight dew.  I was enjoying my morning commute when I looked up and noticed a hawk perched on the power line .  For a moment, I was taken in by his beauty, but became instantly inquisitive as to his intentions.

I am so thankful that God loves us and knows exactly what he needs to do to speak truth into our lives.  For me, he often uses nature to speak the truths that he wants me to understand.  Knowing this, I began to ask God what is it that you want me to learn from this hawk this morning?  In order to understand what could be learned from him, I would first need to be reminded of his nature.  Hawks are birds of prey.  They are said to be “keen-eyed” and efficient hunters.  A Red-tailed Hawk loves open fields.  He will position himself in high places to survey the fields for his prey.

So herein lies the answer. The hawk is looking for his prey; that one animal that is exposed, unprotected, and therefore vulnerable to his attack.  Once spotted, the prey will be easily devoured. Because he is instinctively aware of this, the prey must be constantly on the lookout for his predator.  He must strategically employ survival tactics if he is to stay alive.  It is crucial that he never let his guard down. For animals this can become complicated as their prey are many.  Thankfully, for Christians it is not that complicated.  God has identified our predator, Satan, and has given us the weapons that we need to be victorious over him! In 1 Peter 5:8   we read “Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a raring lion looking for someone to devour.”

As the Red-tailed Hawk was eagerly awaiting that lone animal, so too does Satan search for us in the places where we are alone and vulnerable. Just as  wild animals are nurtured and protected from living within a herd, so too, do we find protection from being intimately connected to the Body of Christ.  For it is within this body that we find the covering and protection of a shepherd as well as the nurture and fellowship from the flock.

Armed with this knowledge, we should not be surprised when Satan attempts to separate us from the very thing that we need for nurture and protection. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

But how does he attempt to separate us from “meeting together?”  There is no doubt that our enemy has studied us and knows us well.  For this reason every canvas is painted a little differently.  While every scenario is different, each one has the same sub-title.  That sub-title is wounding.  Wounding, especially from within the Body of Christ,  blinds us and causes us to resist and isolate ourselves from the very thing that God has called us to embrace.

As Christians, we must remain vigilant.  We must begin to recognize the attacks from our adversary for what they are.  We are not battling flesh and blood!  “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”(Ephesians 6:12) Jesus, in his love for us has provided us with everything that we need to be over-comers!

If we have been wounded, God is calling us to employ the weapon of forgiveness!  If we have inflicted wounds, God is compelling us to employ the weapons of repentance and restitution and above all,  as the Body of Christ, God is empowering us to relentlessly pursue unity!  When all of these weapons are employed in unison, we cannot help but be victorious!  “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.  First be reconciled to your brother and then come offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

If you find yourself wounded today and tempted to withdraw from fellow believers, it is my prayer that God will open your eyes to see the enemy and the assault that he is yielding against you.  If God has revealed to you areas in which you have someway been the wounder, I pray that you will go to the ones that you have wounded and repent!    Above all else,  I pray that you will pick up your weapons and fight,  fervently embracing the covering, fellowship, and protection that God has provided!  God is gently reminding us that if we fail to plug in, we will most certainly get plucked out!

 

 

Have you ever watched a movie trailer and gotten super excited to see the movie, only to be let down by the actual film? I know that I have.  But where exactly does the disappointment come from?  Most likely, we are dissatisfied because as the movie plays out it in no way lives up to the highlights that we were introduced to in the trailer.  The movie, simply put, did not live up to our expectations.

Does social media have you dissatisfied with your season of life? Let’s face it,  social media outlets are everywhere. Even if we tried, it would be impossible to get away from their influence. There is not a single aspect of our lives that is not affected by some form of social media.    But, are these social media outlets doing US more harm than good? That is an important question that I feel that God is asking us to ask ourselves.  Personally, I enjoy social media.I especially enjoy the ability that it affords me to remain in contact with family and friends.  As I follow friends and family, I get to view a highlighted reel of great events, successes, and accomplishments.  I get excited as I see the people that I know and love enjoying life and all that it has to offer.

To be  completely transparent, as excited as I am for the great things that are happening to those around me, there is an opposite reaction that often takes place in my mind and heart.  My excitement, often times, turns to envy, covetousness, jealousy, and disappointment.  Emotions that I believe strike at the at the hearts of many as they begin to compare their lives and circumstances to the movie trailer that is presented by so many on social media. For some, the dissatisfaction comes as a fleeting thought, and nothing more. For others, it is an ever present struggle that has to be fought and battled on a daily basis.  Unfortunately, for many, thoughts of comparison become overwhelming, leading them into depression and despair.

The above picture is one taken at the lake on a recent family vacation. It    reminds me of the many posts that I see with hash tags such as “my current view.” While I was vacationing and enjoying the spectacular view on the lake, I was also very cognizant that this photo by no means tells the complete story of my “current situation.” Yes, the water  appears relaxing,  yes, the scenery is breathtaking, and yes, the environment gives an illusion of peace and tranquility, but the truth is that the current season of my life is neither.   This is my highlighted reel.  Beautiful, but very deceiving especially if it is being used by others as a source of comparison.

You see, the truth of the matter is that I will probably spend very little time in this peaceful environment, my scenery is not breathtaking, and I am not walking in a position of peace and tranquility.  I know, some may be thinking, you are to be content with your circumstances.  I am aware of scripture and what it commands.  I am aware that I should count it all joy, have peace, and walk in contentment, but I would be lying if I said that I did. I continue to be a work in progress in this area.

In order for you to properly assess my reel, more information would definitely be necessary.  I look a little more like a wife who never meets all of the needs of her husband, a mother and grandmother who always falls short, an only child struggling to take care of her mom  who never makes the grade.  The highlighted version of my life is deceptive by omission to say the least.  My “reel” life looks nothing like the highlight.

Do NOT be tempted to compare your life to the trailers presented on social media.  If you do, the enemy will surely ensnare you!   The season that you are currently walking through may be a difficult one, but hold on, you are not alone.  “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Be encouraged!  Just as winter turns into spring, spring turns into summer, and summer into fall, so to do the seasons of our lives.  God knew that we would get discouraged so he gave us these promises:  “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to dies; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-10)  God will make everything beautiful in its’ time! (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

As you await the changing seasons of your life with anticipation, approach social media with the knowledge that you are only seeing highlights. Do not be tempted to compare yourself to others.   Remain aware of the  big picture!  Remember that what you are seeing may in many ways be deceptive by omission.  Glean the beauty of social media.  Enjoy your friends and family, but, in doing so, never forget that “All That Glitters is Not Gold!” Be eager to embrace YOUR reel.  It may not always seem good, but it will always be worth it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t begin to count the number of times I have been told “the struggle is real.”  I have often said the same thing myself.  But what does that really mean?  To be perfectly honest, I’m sure that it has a different meaning for everyone.  It can even have multiple meanings to the same person depending on their life circumstances. It is my belief that  the struggle is  real for each of us every day!   We are undoubtedly in a war. A conflict that many of us are losing because we have failed to recognize the enemies tactics and contend with him for our victory.

I don’t know about you, but as I look around at my acquaintances, family, and friends,  I see far to many people hurting.  Far to many struggling to overcome the same hurts, hang ups, and addictions. As if the wounds were not enough, I see far to many believers who have allowed these scars to prevent them from fulfilling the very calling that God has placed on their lives. For non-believers the end result is often more tragic.  Their struggles often prevent them from coming into relationship with the very one who can set them free, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   I would like to tell you that I am immune from the fall-out of my hurts and hang ups, but nothing could be farther from the truth. More times than I would like to mention, I too have fallen victim to these lies.  As I sit today writing this blog I am toiling with what I see in my flesh and what I know to be the truth of the promises in God’s word. No one is immune to the lies and deception of the enemy.  To believe that lie is to assure your own defeat.

It is impossible to read about the life of Jesus and not be confronted with the power that he had to heal and to set the captives free.  In Hebrews 13:8 we read “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  If one believes scripture to be true, then he or she is left to answer a very important question.  If Jesus hasn’t changed, where have we gone wrong?  Why does the body of Christ often seem powerless to overcome their own struggles and even more powerless to break the chains of bondage that have overtaken so many?

For some, the answer is simple.  Some have emphatically chosen to forsake those things which they once believed to be truth.  For most, the answer is far more complicated.  The good news is that whether we fall into the category of the former, or the latter, God has provided the answers for us all.

In 1 Peter 5:8 we read “Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” After years of ministry and self-reflection, it is my belief that the first mistake that one often makes is failing to realize that they have an enemy.  He is not an enemy that merely dislikes them.  He is a powerful enemy that seeks to devour them.  Merriam-Webster defines devour as “to eat up greedily or ravenously.”  Sounds to me like our demise is something that the devil takes seriously!  If one has an enemy, it only stands to reason that he is in a battle.  If there were any question as to whether or not this conflict is real, God makes it very clear in his word.  “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world, on the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”  (2 Corinthians 10:4) Where there is no fight, there is no need for weapons.

Armed with the knowledge that we have an enemy and that we are in combat, what comes next?  It is impossible to succeed in battle without understanding the tactics that your enemy is using against you.  The strategies that Satan uses are many, but his objective remains the same.  Satan’s objective is always to make one believe lies about God, lies about oneself, with the end result being the eradication of one’s God-given calling and purpose.

For some the destruction may begin at birth as he/she is rejected by a mother, father, or both.  For others the destruction may begin in school as they are bullied by  peers.  For many, it will begin in adulthood as they are abused emotionally and or physically by a mate. More tragically for others, it will begin with wounding from the body of Christ.  Whatever the circumstance, the scenario remains the same…get them to believe that one little lie. The enemy knows that it only takes one. Once one believes the “pretty little lie,” Satan’s  plan is strategically set into motion.

The lies are many, but there is a common theme that rings true.  A sound track that plays over and over again in one’s mind.  The sound track goes something like this: no one will ever love you, you will never amount to anything, you are worthless, you are stupid, you should be ashamed. The list could go on, but you get the picture.  Each and every LIE spoken to erode the inner most core of our being.  Sad, but true, many  will spend their entire lives believing the enemies lies, never recognizing that each and every lie was part of a calculated plan over which they have complete and total triumph.

 

In order to live a victorious life one must choose to believe the truth of God’s word.  As followers of Christ we have a mandate first and foremost to God.  We are mandated to know who he is, believe what he says, and to rid our mind of any ideas or thought patterns that come against this truth! “We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) The only way to combat a lie is with the truth!  As one chooses to believe the truth of God’s word, it will become easy for him/her to know who he is, who he can be, and most importantly he will be victorious  in accomplishing God’s will for his  life.

As one recognizes the lies that he has believed, he will more readily recognize the lies that  have those around him have believed. Once the lies of the enemy have been exposed, they can be defeated with the light of God’s word and truth.  I love Lauren Daigle’s new song “You Say.”  It speaks to the very nature of this blog and I encourage you to listen to the chorus which goes as follows:

“You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

You say I am held when I am falling short

When I don’t belong, oh you say I am yours

And I believe oh I believe

What you say of me

Oh I believe”

God is calling us to shed the light of his truth into the areas of darkness that are holding many in bondage. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)  It is imperative that we help those that are  enslaved to the lies of the enemy break free.  It is impossible to win a battle in which you are not actively engaged.  But before one can participate, he must first  be aware that Satan has declared war!  The time for complacency has ended!  Let’s prepare everyone who has fallen victim to the lies and deception of the enemy to be victorious!  Satan has waged war, but our God has declared victory!

 

 

 

 

 

Jerimiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  God does not promise that everything that happens to us will be good, but he does promise that he will use everything for our good if we are called according to his purpose.

 

 

 

 

Have you ever found yourself in a deep valley?  Better yet, have you ever found yourself deep in the valley after you have determined to live your life according to God’s plan and his purpose?  To be quite honest, this is the season that I find myself in today.  As a born again believer who God has graciously forgiven of much, I just want to give back.  I want to see other’s experience the love and forgiveness that Jesus has to offer and I want them to experience the freedom that his forgiveness brings.  In keeping with that notion I pray often for God to use me and my life for his glory.  I even take it a step farther and imagine all of the ways in which God may choose to use me.

While I have many wild imaginations of grand things that I may one day do for the Lord, what I do not have wild imaginations of is the training ground on which he may choose to prepare me for future ministry.  You see, I have even come to realize that I may be fooling myself if I “think” I am  ready to meet the call.  God is showing me that often times I embrace the mission but despise the preparation.

A close look at Queen Esther, wife of Persian king Ahasuerus, reminded me once again of many things that I quickly forget.  While we come to know Esther as the adoptive daughter of Mordecai, deliverer of the Jews,   the Esther that we are unfamiliar with is Hadassah, the orphan.  To be an orphan, in essence is to suffer great loss, having suffered the loss of both of her parents,  Hadassah suffered great loss.   The training field that God choose to use for Queen Esther was from its inception one of great loss.  I have to wonder if the young orphan Esther saw herself as a queen, or on the contrary did she feel alone, abandoned, and forgotten?  Did she see herself as the one who God would choose to deliver her people, or did she see herself as useless?  These are questions for which scripture does not give us a clear answer, but I do ponder these things.

While we have no idea how Esther saw herself, we do know that God saw Esther as the queen who would one day deliver her people from the evil plot of Haman.  You see, God sees our final destination when all that we can see is our current circumstance. God knew that Esther would one day be queen and for this reason was keenly aware of  the life experiences that would train and equip her to fulfill her God-given purpose.  The life of Esther should encourage and remind us that God has purposefully  planned out the canvas of our lives because he knows what is needed to fullfill his ultimate purpose.  There are many lessons that we can learn from Esther, here are just a few.

God will provide for us in our hour of greatest need.  When Hadassah was in need of a father God provided Mordecai.   God provided for Esther when she was unable to care for herself.  In Esther 2:7 we read:”Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother.”

The majority of our lives will be spent in preparation.  Esther spent the majority of her life preparing to meet the king! From her humble beginnings to her rise to the palace God was continually preparing her.   Her preparation did not end when she arrived at the palace, it just took on a new form.  We see in Esther 2:12 that before a young woman could go in to the king she had to complete twelve months of treatments.  Six months with oil of Myrrh and six months with sweet odours and with other things.  Myrrh was a fragrant,  precious, and valued oil used for purification and healing.  The preparation process brings forth purification, healing, restoration, and cleansing.  Being faithful and committed through the preparation process is the very thing that allowed Esther to find favor with the king. In Esther 2:17 we read “And the king loved Esther above all the women and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.”

Those who are in bondage do not have to remain there.  Staying in bondage is a choice!  The real choice is the choice of whether or not we will surrender our will to that of the Father. Esther choose surrender. The ophaned Jew, born into exile became the queen of Persia.  Not only did God make her queen, he made her queen of the greatest empire known in her lifetime.

It is often in the valley that we learn obedience.  Esther did not allow the circumstances of her life to make her bitter or resentful but rather choose to embrace a life of obedience.  Esther learned obedience in the house of  Mordecai. Not only did she learn obedience in his home, she remained obedient to him even after reaching the palace.  In Esther 2:20 we read “But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.”

 

Esther answered God’s call even in the face of danger. In Esther 4:11 we are told “All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called there is one law of his to put him to death.”  While the thing that God calls us to do may not put our life in jeopardy, following God does come with a cost.  There will be opposition to the mission and the opposition may come from places or people whom you love and respect.  If we are to accomplish the mission set before us we will have to come face to face with our fears!

Esther did not use her platform for selfish ambition!  She remained steadfast and committed to her people.  Esther 7:2 “And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.” At this point, Esther could have asked the king for anything and yet she made no requests for herself,  she remained true to the task that God had called her to and asked only that the lives of her people be spared.

God is aware of the schemes of the enemy and he is at work behind the scenes preparing a way of escape. Esther 6:1 “On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.” God interrupted the kings sleep and through the reading of the chronicles made him aware that great honor was due Mordecai for his part in saving the his life.

King Jesus can interrupt the most divisive plans of our enemies and cause them to bring forth our greatest blessings.  Satan is a defeated foe.  God can and will use what satan has planned for our demise to bring forth his destruction and defeat.  We see  in Esther 6:10 that the king made Haman, tbestow on Mordecai great honor.  “Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thous hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the kings gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.”  God does not stop here, as in the seventh chapter of the Book of Eshter we see Haman being hanged on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai!

So, what does all of this mean for you and for me?  What is the take away and how can we apply it?  In its’ simplicity the answer is clear, God is in control!  From the beginning to the end he knows what we need and when we need it!  He has chosen the training ground on which we will be equipped to do what we have been created to do for His kingdom. Every season has been carefully designed and planned with precision to produce the character that is needed to fullfill God’s purpose.    We need but embrace the ground upon which he has chosen to train us and be obedient in our embrace!

To forgive or not to forgive, that is the question!  “I will never be able to forgive him for what he did to me. ”  “She doesn’t deserve my forgiveness!”  “I don’t feel like forgiving him, what he did just hurt me to bad.”  Have you ever said these things to yourself as it relates to someone who has hurt you?  Have you heard someone else say these or similar things as it relates to their hurt?  I, myself have been guilty of saying these very things, and if not saying them, I have certainly thought them.  These statements and others that are similar to them give proof to fact that the true meaning of forgiveness is often befuddling.

To better understand forgiveness, I think that it is important to understand what un-forgiveness looks like and how it affects our lives.  You most likely have un-forgiveness operating in your life if there are people who you try to avoid, people whom you have a desire to get even with, or people for whom you can’t wait to give that speech that you have been rehearsing in your mind for days, or maybe even years.

Recently, while listening to the radio, I heard the story of a teacher who wanted her students to truly understand how unforgiveness and its’ associated bitterness would affect their lives if they made the choice to hold onto it.  In order to illustrate this concept the teacher had her students fill back packs with potatoes.  Each student was to place one potato in his back pack for each person toward whom he was holding anger, bitterness, and or unforgiveness. The students were then to carry the filled backpacks with them for a week.  With time, the weight of the backpacks became cumbersome and produced back aches and discomfort.  The teacher was then able to have the students more fully understand that the weight of unforgiveness may not be recognizable at first, but over time causes pain and discomfort.  The longer the un-forgiveness is carried around, the more problems it produces.

Scripture makes it clear, we are without choice. We must forgive others if we are to experience God’s forgiveness towards us.  However, what does Godly forgiveness look like?  In Matthew 6:14-15 we read: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”   We all desire to have the mercies of God extended to us, but the real question is will we allow the mercies of God to flow through us?

Why is it important to allow mercy and grace to flow through us?  Because God does not want us to become overcome with evil, but rather he wants us to overcome evil with good.  Romans 12:20 says “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”  For years, I loved this scripture!  With this being said though, I loved it for all of the wrong reasons. Little did I know that my understanding of this scripture could not be farther from the truth.

In their teachings through Elijah House Ministries, John and Paula Sanford gave me the true meaning of this scripture which transformed my understanding of God’s word as it relates to overcoming evil with good. John and Paula Sanford wrote:    “When Paul quoted this in his letter to the Romans, homes had no gas or electric ranges or even wood stoves for that matter.  The cooking was done on small fires set between two bricks about six inches apart on the floor, or in an alcove.  The only fuel likely to be available would have been a few sticks and dry leaves-and cow chips.  Starting those fires was difficult.  Few people had the necessary tinder or the time, so a village fire tender was appointed.  All night he would keep a small fire going.  Toward morning, he would build it up and then let it burn down to coals.  Next, he would scrape the coals into a metal brazier, place a wood block on his head, and with pads to protect his hands, he would carefully lift the brazier and set it on the wood block.  Then he would go from house to house.  With metal tongs, he would place some of the hot coals between the bricks so the housewives could have fire for their families.  The familiar sight of the fire tender, making his rounds with coals heaped on his head, gave rise to a common turn of phrase-that if you give kindness or do good to an evil man, you will turn him into one who spreads the warmth of love wherever he goes.  You will “heap coals of fire on his head”.”

So, the proper understanding of this scripture lets us know that the extension of forgiveness, love, mercy, and grace towards our enemies will be the vehicle through which we take part in turning the enemies of God into his disciples who themselves spread God’s love, mercy, and grace to a dying world.  Forgiving others does not mean that what they have done to us does not hurt, was not wrong, or that our hurt does not matter.  Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a choice to be obedient to God and his word.  It is a choice to pardon others for their offenses against us in like manner to Christ’s pardoning of our sins on the cross.  Let us daily choose to forgive so that others may know and receive the love of Jesus! May we be willing to heap coals of fire on the heads of all that offend us in order that the gospel message may be fulfilled!

It is impossible to reminisce of the prophets of old without remembering the great prophet Elijah.  When I think of Elijah,  I recall the many miracles that God performed through him.  The most significant of  which we see in 1 Kings 18 as we watch Elijah defeat the prophets of Baal and call down fire from Heaven.   1 Kings 18:38 “Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 and when all the people saw it they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord he is the God: the Lord he is the God.”

God had just used Elijah to perform many miracles with the climax being this major victory on Mount Carmel.   You would think that coming off of the high of such great a victory Elijah would find himself living on cloud nine, but scripture paints a very different story. Victory, a word on which we would all like our stories to end,   but Elijah’s story does not end here, and quite frankly I am glad that it does not!  I believe that there is something more that God would have us take away from Elijah’s encounter.

In 1 Kings chapter 18, we see Elijah the victor.  The powerful spokes person for the Lord.  Step into  1 Kings 19 and here we see a very different Elijah.  1 Kings 19:4 “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree:and he requested for himself that he might die: and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” What was it that caused Elijah to beg the Lord to call him to his Heavenly home?  Discouragement, a loss of confidence or enthusiasm, dispiritedness;  Elijah was faced with profound  discouragement.  Elijah was discouraged that despite the great miracles that the Lord had performed in their midst, many of the people of Israel had still chosen to deny him.

What is there to be learned from the discouragement of Elijah? First and foremost, we must remember that discouragement is a major tactic that the enemy will use against us both personally and in our ministry endeavors.  If we do not recognize his strategy we will be tempted to quit and give up on the very people who the Lord has called us to serve.  What Elijah failed to realize at the time was that he was paving the way for future generations to follow the Lord.

In a world filled with instant gratification, it is very easy to become disenchanted with the things in life that don’t come immediately. The kingdom of God does not operate on the worldly system of gratification.  In fact, scripture makes it clear that some will plant, others will water, but it is the Lord who will give the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 reminds us “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow.” Just as there are many steps involved in asphalt pavement installation, so to are there many steps in laying the foundation for ministry, both personal and corporate.

The problem that many of us face, as we step out to do what the Lord ha called us to, is that we become discouraged and give up in the demolition and removal phase.  As followers of Christ we must be ever aware that none of our efforts are in vain.  ” Who are you praying for? What outcomes have you expected that have not yet come to fruition?  Is it a child who just doesn’t seem like he/she will ever surrender to the Lord?  Is it a ministry that hasn’t grown as quickly as you expected? Is it loved ones who mock you and persecute you for your desire to work in the kingdom?  Whatever the circumstance, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up!” (Galatians 6:9)

Do not allow discouragement to stop you in the demolition phase!   Continue to pray and be strong in the ministry that God has called you to.   If the Saints who have gone before us had gotten discouraged and given up it would have been impossible for us to reach our final destination.  The same is true of us, if we abandon the job, there are many who will never reach their full potential in Christ!  Let us be willing to endure the hard work of paving even if we never get to enjoy the drive!  The demolition is just as important as the final roll!

 

 

 

 

 

The detour analogy is one that I have used many times in  prayer ministry.  I have experienced many detours in life and quite honestly I can’t tell you that I have navigated them all well.   To be perfectly honest, I have been poorly navigating a detour for many weeks now, so much so that I have gotten completely off course with what I know that God has called me to do.

You see, blogging is not something that I would do on my own.  On my own,  I find it hard to believe that I have anything worth saying.  The truth of the matter is, I really don’t have much to say that can be of value in the lives of others, but God does and he has chosen to use me as the vessel through which to say it.  I have allowed the disappointments in life, the things that haven’t worked out the way that I thought that they would to silence the voice that God has given me.

I am thankful that the God that I serve has a sense of humor and that his timing is ALWAYS perfect!  As I hop back onto WordPress to step back into my calling, what do I find…..my thoughts regarding the detour.  Funny how something that you have used time and time again, that you thought that you had a “handle” on can speak to you at just the right moment.  Prayerfully it will do the same for you.

You’re driving down the road in a hurry and anxious to arrive at your destination.  You appear to be making good time as you look ahead and see it….that much dreaded detour sign.  At this point you are faced with a decision.  Will you patiently follow the detour sign even though it might mean arriving at your destination later than you expected,  will you recognize the detour sign, but become impatient and plot your own course, or will you completely ignore the detour sign and attempt to navigate the road ahead ignoring the dangers?

Detour signs, while inconvenient and aggravating, are necessary for our safety and well -being.  The person who chooses to follow the detour signs will arrive at his/her final destination healthy and whole.  I want to challenge you to look at the detour signs of  life in like manner.  What are the detour signs in my life you may be tempted to ask?  The detour signs we experience in life are often seen as “no’s”, closed doors, or circumstances that don’t work out as we expected.

Trusting and believing that God has a plan for our lives is essential if we are to properly navigate life’s detours. You see God has the road map, he knows every curve, every pot hole and every danger.  It is his desire that we make it to our final destination safe and equipped for our mission.  If we are to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives,  it is essential that we embrace life’s detours.  Every “no” that we experience  must be looked at as pointing us in the specific direction that we are to go.  In God’s language no doesn’t mean no.   Every no is guiding  us to a better yes!  If we refuse to accept the no’s we may be missing God’s best for our lives.  More importantly, we may be thwarting our God-given destiny!  I encourage you to remind yourself and others daily to embrace the detours!

 

Jeremiah 29:11″ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

 

 

 

I absolutely love to find the perfect shades!  You know, the one’s that protect your eyes from the sun but look great too.  Everyone knows that sunglasses are necessary to protect their eyes and prevent them from discomfort, but what if I told you that the shades YOU are wearing may be causing more harm than good?

As Christians, many of us have difficulty relating to our Heavenly Father.  Maybe we have tried but have never been able to fully understand the reasons for this.  Let me surmise that our inability to properly relate to God  is directly related to  the foggy lenses through which we are seeing him.  In his infinite wisdom, God placed babies in the loving care of parents.  It was God’s plan that each parent would  nurture and bring to life the spirit of each child.   Due to mans free will and poor choices many of us have never received the love and nurture that God intended for us to receive.

I have heard people say that this is no big deal.  I have heard others say that people “just need to get over it.” While these ideas may sound  great , to some,  we know that they are simply impossible. The ways in which we relate to our parents will affect us for a lifetime!  There is no escaping it.  Our choices will determine whether or not these things will have a positive impact on our lives, or on the contrary, affect us in a negative way.

I was blessed to be raised by a loving father.  While I never questioned his love for me, my  eyes have now been opened to the ways in which his parenting affected my ability to see God clearly.  The best example that I can think of is the idea that “you made your bed now you must lay in it.”  This very statement has made it difficult for me to fully realize the free grace of God.  I often find myself believing that God will leave me to figure things out on my own when I have messed things up,  that he will in someway punish me for my mistakes, failures, and shortcomings.  This is just one of many lies that I struggle with believing about the God that I serve.

Through my belief in these lies, I have placed onto God the nature of my earthly father.  Every lie that we choose to believe represents yet another smear on the lens through which we see and relate to God.  The more speckled our lens becomes, the more difficult it is to see our Heavenly Father for who he TRULY is.  To properly know and relate to HIM we must find his attributes in scripture and refuse to associate the sins of our fathers with him.

It is impossible to truly know God  without constant communion and fellowship with him.  If you find your self having difficulty in this area take a minute to examine your glasses.  Are there things that you have come to believe about God that in no way line up with who HE says that he is? Do you know who HE is?  I challenge you to get to know him.  To see him as anything but a good father is to see him through a foggy lens.

 

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows