Category: Uncategorized

October 2021, we heard the disturbing story of 17 Americans including an 8-month-old baby, were kidnapped by a notorious gang in Haiti. The Americans were Christian missionaries finishing work at an orphanage. The kidnappers were asking a million dollars for each American equaling $17 million. Sometimes we falsely believe if we are about doing God’s work nothing bad will happen to us. However, in Acts 16, the Bible talks about Paul and Silas being imprisoned unjustly. They were spreading the word of Jesus Christ! They were seen as troublemakers and thrown in jail. The Bible tells of Paul and Silas singing praises and praying to God while in jail. What a beautiful example for us… When trouble comes our way, we should be singing praises and praying to God, too! That is why the account was shared in the Bible to show us the way. Eventually, all of the missionaries were set free unharmed.  Recently, I listened to the account of their ordeal. It was described as the missionaries singing and praying throughout the day while there. They would take turns of leading the songs and praying. The missionary described a day in December 2021 the door that was blocked and heavily guarded was now left unmanned. The 12 who remained left through those doors and out the back of the compound. They were being held in a wilderness area. They did not know where they were going but came across a farmer who pointed them into the direction of finding a phone! The missionary said they could not explain everything that was going on when they escaped because it just did not make sense. That my folks is the POWER OF GOD! We always ask, Where Is God!? Yet, He is with us at All times. The Bible says “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God (Mathew 5:8). Through Paul and Silas’ singing and praying to God caused an earthquake that shook the shackles off of them the walls came down which set them free… AWESOME! When I listened to the missionary’s account, I got excited and happy to hear about how God MOVED in their situation. Another encouragement for us to put into our memory of God working in the affairs of men. Love & Blessings!

Have you ever wondered when you were in a situation or was experiencing something that called your character into question, how did Jesus feel? The Bible says we as Christians will share in Jesus’ sufferings and glory (1 Peter 4:13, Philippians 3:10, Romans 8:17). It is probably why Peter said count it all JOY! Of course, Peter is speaking on the spiritual realm when he says this because we cannot FEEL this in the natural. Feeling what Jesus felt is relating to Him…sharing is his hurt, pain, suffering, and glory. So, I believe God allows some of our hurts and pains so we can feel what Jesus felt. We will be confronted with many forks in the road in our journey with Christ. Sometimes those forks are presented to test our character, in Jesus’ name PERIOD. Sometimes we go through situations and circumstances so we can see our spiritual maturity and feel what Jesus felt. Jesus was embarrassed, humiliated, criticized, scorned, and I can go on and on some of the unbearable things He endured. Although we don’t like to think about it when experiencing these situations, we need to ask ourselves how did Jesus feel? The fact of the matter is when we decide to do things Jesus’ way it will rail against our flesh. However, your commitment and dedication to our Lord will allow you to endure. When we can embrace those feelings, it brings us closer to our Lord and should help us to love and appreciate who Jesus is all the more. Love & Blessings! 

Timeout. Usually when we think about timeout, we think about a child in a corner somewhere by themselves or a timeout with a sporting event. Have you ever considered a Holy Timeout? A Holy Timeout is when you know you are about to lose control and say or do something you know is wrong and will hurt the heart of God and so you put yourself in a corner, sort of speak, to save yourself and others. Folks, this is deep! Part of us becoming intimate with God is that our love for him is so we do not want to hurt His heart so our spiritual maturity will cause us to put ourselves in a Holy Timeout. (LOL!) I would rather put myself into a Holy Timeout then to have God put me in a Holy Timeout. Usually, it is not pretty when God has to put us in a Holy Timeout. Not only that, but once you have said or done something you KNOW is wrong, you grieve the Holy Spirit that is within you and that is such an awful feeling that you wish you would have put yourself in a Holy Timeout.  Oh, this is a good thing to experience because if you have done or said something that is wrong and you have no regret, sorrow, apology, etc. about what you have done or said, that is a cause of concern. You should be asking yourself and God, why do I not feel sorry about what I did or said. The Bible says God disciplines and chastise those He loves and accepts (Hebrews 12:6). And yes, God is forgiving. So, yes, we should ask for forgiveness to God and people we have hurt or offended, but that does not erase God’s discipline or consequence of our actions. Sometimes the discipline and consequences can be so severe that a Holy Timeout that we give ourselves maybe well worth it. Love & Blessings!

Wow! We are at the end of the month already! Before you know it, it will be Christmas and we will do it all over again… another new year. However, as we move through this year, make positive changes to honor God. For those of us who love God, and have accepted Jesus as our Lord AND Savior, that means intentional living. Intentional living to honor God in what we do and what we say. That means we crucify our flesh EACH DAY… Ouch! Our FLESH hates this, but it is what we do to HONOR GOD with our lives. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior the Bible says we will share in His Glory and Sufferings (1 Peter 4:13, Philippians 3:10, Romans 8:17). Additionally, the beauty of honoring God with our lives and because we are allowing God’s spirit to manifest through us, it will become easier and easier for us to do. We operate on the SUPERNATURAL strength of the Holy Spirit to help us to do the things we need to do for Jesus’ sake. That is what Jesus was talking about when He said the Holy Spirit will come and be our HELP! (John 14:15-21) Bless God! If you have ever experienced this you know this to be TRUE and HUMBLING allow God to get His work done through you… THIS is how we honor God. Love & Blessings!

Details can be exhausting! Just look at the above image. Yet, God LOVES details. In Jeremiah, God declares He knows the plans or details he has for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). Whew! That is a lot when you think of the billions of people on the Earth! Not to mention creatures great and small, too! Think about Noah’s Ark and the details God gave Noah to build it. Then in Exodus chapters 25 -30, God intricately describes how he wants the tabernacle to be built. I challenge you to read it! When I read it, the Holy Spirt started speaking to my spirit and said, if I can be so detailed in describing how I wanted Moses to build the tabernacle, know I am just as detailed with YOUR life… WOW! God orders the steps of man (Psalm 37:23). In some way this should bring peace to our hearts, mind, soul and spirit. I believe it is why Peter says count it joy when we experience trials and tribulations because it is doing a good work in us! So just as God gave the details in building the tabernacle and other beautiful structures, He is also building us up to be beautiful men and women of God! Love & Blessings!

I shared with you in Blog 25 how the Holy Spirit led me to reread the New Testament and how I received a deeper and richer meaning and appreciation of the authors’ writings. The beauty of this is these words were written for US many, many years ago! I find we distance ourselves from the word of God; yet, God left His word, the Bible, for our benefit and edification in Satan’s kingdom, which is the world we live in. We as Christians, tend to forget this world is not our home. We are only passing through for we are eternal beings that will live on forever! So, the Bible is so clear about some things. One is about suffering in the New Testament. It is often shared throughout the New Testament that we will suffer as Christians. In 1^st Peter, it says don’t think it strange when we suffer because it works out patience in us. Similarly, about suffering, the Bible says we will share in the suffering of Christ as Christians (1 Peter 4:13, Philippians3:10, Romans 8:17). The question is had we truly embraced what the Bible has prepared us for? Because God loved us so much, He left the Holy Spirit and the Bible for us to work out our soul salvation (Philippians 2:12) Recognize it is Satan’s tactic to keep us away from God and the Bible. He wants us to rely on others to tell us the Word instead of us having an encounter with the Holy Spirit in reading the Word. This is what happens when you read the Bible for yourself and spend some alone time with God… He starts to SPEAK to YOU! I strongly encourage you in the New Year, to spend more time with God by reading His Word, the Bible. As the Word is Imparted unto you, you will encounter the Holy Spirit speaking directly to you revealing things to you in a deeper, richer perspective. Love & Blessings!

Philanthropy! What do you think of when you see or hear the word, PHILANTHROPY? Does it spark any of the above words? Philanthropy is giving of YOUR money, time, talent, or treasure. With that definition, we ALL can be philanthropist! It is a heart attitude towards giving. God has called us to be philanthropist. In Exodus 25: 2, God required the giving to be done WILLINGLY with the HEART. Here God is requesting treasure as you read further in the chapter. A CHEERFUL GIVER is what He has called us to be in 2 Corinthians 9:7. The HIGHER giving is for us to love each and to bless each other. So, in 2022 come up a little higher and embrace becoming a philanthropist. It is nothing to stick your chest out about, but it is a humbling experience to love and help others. Speaking life and words of encouragement into others is a type of philanthropy. Sharing your smile or lending your ear are types of philanthropy. Again, it is a heart attitude towards giving. See how many of the above words you can put into practice and action in 2022! You will make God SMILE… Love & Blessings!

Happy New Year! New year, new beginnings! This pandemic has been striking across the world in that it has touch EVERY part of the world… That’s a God thing! I believe God has been moving on the Earth sending out messages individually and collectively… It is a time for us to take heed!  I believe God speaks to us every day; it’s up to us if we are paying attention to Him. Have you been paying attention to what God has been saying to YOU during this world pandemic that we are still in?  As I reflected on 2021, I witnessed God usher me into an early retirement in this pandemic! What a marvelous BLESSING! He has since whispered to me twice to enjoy my retirement, which I intend to do!  New beginnings! Behold, I do a new thing (Isaiah 43:19). God has also shown me people, places, and things, that will no longer be in my life in the new year. God was revealing these things to me throughout the year… New Year, new beginnings. Some of them are bittersweet, but God has impressed upon me I must not look back, but move forward. What has God been telling you and showing you in your life that needs to change? New beginnings. Because God loves us our lives are not static. They were not designed to stay the same. We serve an active, living God who is progressive and moving and working in the world every day, including in our lives, our loved one’s lives and people we don’t even know. I encourage you to incline your ear and take heed to God. Open your heart to what He is saying to YOU! This will probably include the good and the bad. So do not shrink from the bad because they are the keys to our blessings, too. Remember, ALL things work together for GOOD for those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28).  I must admit when God started showing me the people, places, and things that will not be with me in the new year as part of my new beginning, I was a little sad, but I also realized in order for me to be where God needs me to be as His hands, mouth, and feet on the Earth, I have to surrender to His will for my life and not my will. It is the lifestyle we live as Christians. What is your new beginning in the new year? God is speaking… Just ask and He will reveal His will for you in 2022. Love & Blessings!