How to Repay God’s Grace and Mercy 

Ever eaten something that was mind-blowingly amazing, or witnessed a summer sunset that encompassed all the colors of the rainbow, or held a newborn child and immediately felt all the excitement and hope that is “newness”? I’d like to think that these experiences are moments that we are intimately connected to our creator. It’s in these moments that we experience awe at the masterful creation of God.

Seriously, slow down your mind and remember the first time you tried a strawberry (or other fruit) and you tasted the simple, god created, sweetness. Think of it this way, God created everything you eat (minus the GMO foods) and he did so with the main purpose of sustaining our existence, providing us with nourishment. Look at the foods you feed your pets, they most likely aren’t flavorful, but they are sustaining. So, for there to be a food that is sustaining that is also packed with flavor, is nothing but miraculous. It’s God’s “happy” gift to us. He gave us flavor.

When you think of everything that God has given us, freely given us, you probably question, “How do I repay him for these gifts?” I know I ask that all the time in my prayers. I often find myself feeling unworthy or just overwhelmed at the gracious heart of God. Do you know he asks very little from us, as a form of “repayment”? He only asks for our heart, mind, and soul to be rested on him, to be reflective of his words and his love. You can tell by the beauty that is creation that he always only wanted the absolute best for us.

I recently overheard someone liken cancer to things that are demonic. As a cancer survivor (again read my blogs – my survival is “remission” and I live in the shadows of a disease that can strike at any time) – but I don’t sweat it because of God. When this person said that I instantly got sad and let doubt enter my head. Thank the Lord Jesus for instantly coming back to me and saying – nope! Disease isn’t demonic – it isn’t a creation of Satan. He is not a creator. He is a Spin-Doctor – he spins truth around so that we are confused, mislead and heartbroken – but he cannot CREATE. That power rests solely with God. Disease (all kinds) are the result of our exodus from Eden. When we fell, we inherited a broken world. Yes, Satan is the “puppet master” of the fallen world, but the disease that we have is our “punishment” for being a sinful and fallen creation of God. God never wanted us to suffer (again think of that beautiful sunrise you saw), but we had evil and wicked hearts and turned away from God. As a result, we suffer the consequences.

That said, there are many among us that will suffer a disease, even though they themselves live a dutiful and faithful life. But the consequences of the fallen world fall onto all of us. The reason we fear and cry at the word “cancer” is because our modern-timed self has seen medicines and cures that have made some diseases less lethal (heart issues, high blood pressure, diabetes) – keep in mind that years back these diseases were just as lethal as cancer. We just haven’t found the remedy for it like we have for other diseases. But let that give you hope today. If you had a diagnosis of cancer in the 1930’s or 1940’s, you died a very horrible and painfilled death. Today we have medicines that prolong our life with less pain and give us a quality of life that we would not have had less than 100 years ago. Today, a child born with Type I diabetes will most likely live into adulthood, 100 years ago, they barely survived childhood. Medicine and those that discover them – well those people have a blessing by God and have shared that with the rest of us.

Look at all those ingredients that are in modern day medicines (think Penicillin), those ingredients are mostly found in the created world of God. God has given us everything we will ever need; all we have to do is seek it out and make use of it.

So back to that question “how do I repay God?” You can’t. We can never repay in equal portion to God what he has given to us. We never will. He gave us and sacrificed his son, so that we may have salvation and eternal life with him.  What we can do is, to tell the world about him! Now while you can! Even in your suffering show God’s mercy and grace to others. Don’t stop reflecting God’s love to others.

Usually, I start this series with discussing the song choice (halfway through with this series), but this week, I needed to speak from my heart. The words I overheard about a disease that has changed my entire life upset me, not because I was fearful that there was some sort of demonic creation inside of me, but because it simply isn’t true (for me). If I had not been diagnosed with Cancer and made to suffer through a grueling course of treatment, and been thrown into a bottomless pit, I may not have found Jesus and I may not have been redeemed and made new. Cancer was not a curse to me – it was my rescue story. I am so sorry that people suffer this disease, but I must continue to believe there are reasons for it (God given reasons) that we humans will never know, and I am okay with that.

This week’s song is a “hidden gem, or deep dive”, it was only out for a short time and by an artist that is only known for this song. I was a full-fledged teenager when this song came out and can tell you that at the age of 15, I took the meaning of this song to be about a crush. Today, I am letting it be my battle cry to all my fellow Christians. It is time to tell the whole wide world about Jesus.

Song “Whole Wide World”, sung by A’me Lorain, released in 1989, written by Elliot Wolff and Amie Roman.

I always want a little mystery, but now the tension’s killing me

No place left for words to hide

I never thought it could be quite so tough, lips once sealed are splitting up

There ain’t no secrets to outshine, Father Time

Whispers in the dark don’t do, let’s hit the lights

Now I just got to spread the news

So what are you telling me?

What are you telling me?

What are you telling me?

What are you telling me?

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

I don’t have any fears, I am positive

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

We’re never gonna be alone, our love is stone

Don’t Stop!

Love me til you drop, it’s alright with me

One sharp arrow through my heart, it’s alright, it’s alright

Now listen!

To many words, too much a crowd, I wanna spill ‘em or they’ll leak out

I’m so glad to get the chance

I kept it secret till I knew for sure

So not to pick my heart off the floor

Now, it’s time to take a stand, heart in hand

Whispers in the dark don’t do, let’s hit the lights

Now I just got to spread the news

So what are you telling me?

What are you telling me?

What are you telling me?

What are you telling me?

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

When I drop a tear you are always here

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

I’m looking at a living dream, don’t wake me up

I’m gonna tell the whole wide world I will never give you up

I’m gonna tell the whole wide world you’re my one and only love

Whispers in the dark don’t do, let’s hit the lights

Now I just got to spread the news

So what are you telling me?

What are you telling me?

What are you telling me?

What are you telling me?

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

I don’t have any fears, I am positive

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

We’re never gonna be alone, our love is stone

What are you telling me now?

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

I wanna tell everybody you’re my cup of tea

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

Your love never shakes, you don’t alternate

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

Smoke gets in my eyes, I don’t see other guys

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you

Our love will never tumble down, it’s built on solid ground

I wanna tell the whole wide world about you… 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rktXEdp0hg&list=RD6rktXEdp0hg&start_radio=1

 

Links for this week:

How to help someone going through cancer (and other diseases)

https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/19-ways-to-help-someone-during-cancer-treatment.h00-159223356.html

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/caregivers/how-to-be-a-friend-to-someone-with-cancer.html

 

Verses to help you appreciate God’s creation

https://dailyverses.net/creation

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God~s-Creation

Two of my favorites:

1 Timothy 4:4 “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude.”

Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him.

 

Organizations to give to – that truly help those suffering with cancer

https://www.cancer.org/ (for the patient and research)

https://standuptocancer.org/ (for the research)

https://www.cancerresearch.org/ (for the research)

https://dancingwhilecancering.org/donate/ (children’s cancer)

https://rmhc.org/ (for the families)

*Please also know that each individual cancer has it’s own forum – and many of those charities and forums are excellent sources of inspiration, information and treatment options for that particular cancer)

For me: https://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/

I pray each of you has a blessed and joyful week!

 

 

Gratitude During the Storm

I hope everyone had an amazing Independence Day and your celebrations reminded you of how fortunate we are to live in this country where we can be so different and still so blessed.

This week’s dive into musical lyrics and my biblical questions and thoughts was always a topic that I was going to write about, but I am slipping it in now, because my Uncle Joe made a song request. I felt like it was the 1980’s Top 40 Countdown and it was a “Long Distance Dedication”. Those were always a fun spot on a Sunday afternoon. The song for this week is so simple that is nothing but beautiful.

Natalie Merchant in her solo days and as part of the band 10,000 Maniacs was background music to my post high-school days when I was aimlessly pinging from one thing to another. The song “Kind & Generous” came out in 1998 which was my year of my greatest blessing from God. I had my daughter Brittany in 1998 and with all my female related health problems, I can look back and say, “that was a miracle”. The songwriter has only said one simple thing about the song and the inspiration thereof, “I’m proud of the song because I always wanted to write a song that had an extremely universal, simple sentiment, GRATITUDE.”

Well let’s look at the lyrics and then jump straight into how we are to be giving daily thanksgiving to God, even when we are knee deep in the depths of the valleys.

Song: Kind & Generous, 1998, written by Natalie Merchant 

You’ve been so kind and generous

I don’t know why you keep on giving

For your kindness I’m in debt to you

For your selflessness – my admiration

For everything you’ve done

You know I’m bound – I’m bound to thank you for it

Lalalalala

Hey, hey

You’ve been so kind and generous

I don’t know why you keep on giving

For your kindness I’m in debt to you

And I never could have gone this far without you

For everything you’ve done

You know I’m bound – I’m bound to thank you for it

Lalalalala

Oh I want to thank you for so many gifts

You gave me love and tenderness

I want to thank you

I want to thank you for your generosity,

The love, and the honesty that you gave me

I want to thank you, show my gratitude,

My love and my respect for you

I want to thank you

Oh I want to thank you, thank you

Thank you, thank you

Thank you, thank you

Thank you, thank you

Thank you, thank you

Thank you, thank you

Thank you

I want to thank you, thank you…

 

I want you to STOP – GO BACK AND READ those lyrics. That is nothing but pure gratitude. It’s like a scene from Psalms, where King David is thanking God and acknowledging God for everything and even thanking him in advance for pulling him out of the mess, he was in or was about to be in. We need to stop and give thanks like David! We need to be humble and thankful before the Lord in all things.

There is so much chaos going on in our world right now, so many distractions and ugliness. We could get lost in the darkness and despair; it would be so easy to give up and let the chaos overtake us. But as Christians we cannot give in to those thoughts. We must refocus, regroup, and reprioritize. Look up from where you are, or kneel where you are and give thanks to Jesus for:

1.       You are breathing.

2.       You are not hungry.

3.       You have a roof over your head.

4.       You have pain in your body (pain means you are alive).

5.       You are struggling in something (means you are trying).

6.       You feel blessed.

7.       You feel like you are in a tough season (God only tests those that believe in him); etc. etc. etc.

God loves us. He loves us so much that he gave his only begotten son, Jesus, to come to this earth and walk with us, teach us, be rejected by us, and be crucified by us – and to die for us!

So, we have a lot to be thankful for and we owe God more than a prayer on a Sunday. God calls on us to be thankful in all things and at all times, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. It may sound impossibly hard to give thanks to God when your life seems like it is falling to pieces or when you turn on the news and there is one mass shooting after another.

I struggled with this during my season with cancer. It was during my second bout of cancer that I was stumbling into despair with the “woe is me” attitude and I remember coming to this verse Joshua 24:18 “…Yes, we will worship and obey the Lord, because the Lord is our God.” It hit me that even when I suffer and feel fear and isolation, he is with me, and I am to give thanks and worship him. He is my only provision, my only salvation, and my only healer. In him, I have all that I will ever need.

You know that what I am saying is not an easy mindset. It’s still hard sometimes for me to “let go and let God.” When I do quiet my mind and let him in and take over, he never fails, and he never disappoints. He is my only “forever”. Understand this please, Jesus is your only “forever” anything. He will never leave you. This is what I cling to when my fleshly and worldly mind wonder to dark thoughts. I am a two-time cancer survivor, with an underlying diagnosis of Stage IV-B (the worst) Uterine Cancer. My lymph system is like a dormant land-mine. I take medications that keep it quiet and there are times (like right now) when something triggers my inner most fears. All day long I have been repeating “I am a child of God”. It comforts me to know that no matter what, my God is awesome and can work good things out of bad situations. And for that I am bound to say, “Thank you.”

It’s not just people like me with illness that find it difficult to have a heart full of gratitude. It is everyone in every situation – because our world is fallen. You know it isn’t going to get any better here on earth. That is not how the story ends. The world is going to progressively get worse until the day Jesus returns for us.  And that is okay; we are not meant to be bothered or worried about this. We are told to stay focused on Jesus, to continue to do the work of God and to witness and testify to others of the greatness of God.

Your heart should be full of love, joy and gratitude every day. There is something in your day that you can be thankful for – START there. Each day give thanks for that and watch it grow into a heart full of joy and gratitude.

So in the beginning of this blog, I mentioned that the song this week coincides with the birth of my only child. She is more than just a gift from God, she’s my blessing and promise from God. She is my miracle. Right now, in my life there are things going on, that I am sure I will talk about in the coming weeks. Those things are the fruits of those prayers and response from God. I feel like I am living in the “bonus”. When I am so joyful of the fulfillment of the prayers that I prayed over her, for myself, for my family. It is such a blessing to see fulfillment. Even if my life ended today, I would die happy. I am happy because I have seen that prayer works, that God does fulfill his promises and that he does work all things to his glory. It has been a pure privilege to witness this. I feel undeserving of this honor, and I pray for each of you that God presents himself in a way that leaves you with no doubt that he exists and that he is a Good Good God!

This song’s lyrics just make me smile! Jesus is kind, he is generous, he is selfless, he is a tender and loving God, he is honest. He has given me everything, he continues to give me everything, he has blessed me with gifts, he has been there and the best one is he left the 99 to come after this soul!

So, thank you Jesus for everything. I don’t know why you keep on giving all for this sinner, but I am forever indebted to you for the peace and restoration you have given my soul and for being my salvation and way to an eternal life in heaven.

That is all my fellow sisters and brothers in Christ – I pray you have a peaceful and fulfilling week.

 

Here are some ways to express your gratitude or share your gifts and blessings with others.

Gratitude:

https://www.bethesdagardensmonument.com/blog/5-ways-to-show-gratitude-daily#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20truest%20ways,to%20convey%20appreciation%20to%20God.

Gifts:

https://www.gcu.edu/blog/spiritual-life/weekly-devotional-using-your-god-given-talents

 

Look these up this week and marinate in the joy of being grateful:

Psalms 103:1-4                Colossians 2:6-7                             Isaiah 12:4-5                          James 1:17

 

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAwyIad93-c

 

 

How Can I Be Bold In My Faith?

Hello friends. It’s time to journey with me this week and look at how the songs of my youth can help me through my faith questions. This week I am trying to understand how to be bold in my faith and what it means to be bold in faith. The world would have me fear even trying to understand this let alone act on it. To be bold in faith, is in truth a complete rejection of the way the current culture is trending. However, I am not afraid. To be bold is to stand firm in faith and to not bend.

My song this week brings me so many memories. I remember watching this band with my dad, and he buying me a drum kit, so that I could one day be rock star. We both really enjoyed the music of The Go-Go’s, that and our affection for the Smokey and the Bandit are some of my sweetest memories of my biological father, Steve.

This song, “Our Lips Are Sealed”, is a very fun up-beat song that brings back feelings of happiness, love, summer fun and just being able to relax and be a child. I honestly think that is what God wants for us, to have peace in our relationship with him. That said, once we are saved and a member of Jesus’ family, we are part of the greater “warrior team” of spreading the Gospel and living a life that resembles that of the core tenets of faith.

The song was written by Jane Wiedlin, guitarist for The Go-Go’s. The song was inspired by her relationship with a married man, that she needed to keep quiet, as the band was just starting out and they were an all-female band. Their public relations department needed them to appear “available” to attract fans (ie: men) to their shows and to buy their albums and since they were an all-female band, they wanted their image to appear clean with an edge. The song is about keeping secrets and being gossiped about. I think we can all relate to being a secret holder and being a gossip spreader. 

    “Our Lips Are Sealed” , 1981

    Written by Jane Wiedlin and Terry Hall and performed by The Go-Go’s

    Can you hear them?

    They talk about us

    Telling lies

    Well that’s no surprise

    Can you see them?

    See right through them

    They have no shield

    NO secrets to reveal

    Doesn’t matter what they say

    In the jealous games people play

    Hey, hey, hey

    Our lips are sealed

    There’s a weapon

    That we must use

    In our defense

    Si-lence

    When you look at them

    Look right through them

    That’s when they’ll disappear

    That’s when we’ll be feared

    It doesn’t matter what they say

    In the jealous games people play

    Hey, hey, hey

    Our lips are sealed

    Pay no mind to what they say

    It doesn’t matter anyway

    Hey, hey, hey

    Our lips are sealed

    Hush, my darling

    Don’t you cry

    Guardian angel

    Forget their lies

    Can you hear them?

    They talk about us

    Telling lies

    Well, that’s no surprise

    Can you see them?

    See right through them

    They have no shield

    No secrets to reveal

    Doesn’t matter what they say

    In the jealous games people play

    Hey, hey, hey

    Our lips are sealed

    Pay no mind to what they say

    It doesn’t matter anyway

    Hey, hey, hey

    Our lips are sealed

    Our lips are sealed

           Today’s culture demands everyone conforms to the farthest edges (just because), even if it is by extortion, lies, misrepresentation, smearing, canceling, or diminishing anyone that stands firm in the truth of their faith. I cannot and will not speak for anyone else. For me, to be bold in my faith, means I will stand firm in the core tenets, I will not cower (even if it means I am canceled or bullied). I will answer any question about being a Christian with an honest and loving biblical approach.

          This was not what was supposed to be this week’s message. Today I was going to explore a totally different topic in being bold, but God has weighed on me how displeased he is. To all the haters out there, no, that does not mean God speaks directly to me, but he does nudge me. In that nudging he has shown how when we cower in faith-based questions and accusations, when we seal our lips, when we tell half the truth, when we choose to hide from a biblical question instead of being honest, we ARE NOT SOLID IN FAITH. WE ARE MISLEADING. WE ARE ACTING LIKE WE ARE ASHAMED OF OUR FAITH.

              Examples:

              1. Christian Singer -  being asked about “is homosexuality a sin”. The singer didn’t answer the question. The singer did refer them to the bible, but chose not to answer a biblical question.

              2. Top Hollywood Actor refusing to speak up for self because the actor was so fearful of the topics thrown their way by the a “multi-lettered group”. Seriously, this person has been viciously attached online because people assume things about the actor due to him calling himself (shh! A Christian).

              3. Biblical Study Book authors, have come out publicly for abortion rights. They have decided that they (humans) can bifurcate the commandment “Thou Shall Not Kill” and being a Christian. Or Biblical Study Book Teachers and Leaders that denounce their church (as an whole) instead of just calling out the individuals. Statements and actions like this cause DIVISION.

              4. “Some” Mega-Church Preachers - (and MANY OTHERS) that cherry pick things out of the bible to preach a “EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE PERFECT FOR YOU” message. Seriously have these folks read the bible?

              Here are examples of those being BOLD in faith:

              1. Candace Cameron Bure making a huge move from Hallmark (which recently broke away from it’s family-oriented movies) and becoming a content developer for GAC (which has promised to be only family-friend and faith-lead). She has ignored all the “haters” comments and has proven that you can live a bold faith-filled life and still do what you love. She hasn’t hesitated to talk about her faith, her beliefs. She is even helping guide fellow actors (Danica McKellar “Wonder Years”) into a relationship with Christ. She does it all with grace and love (spiritual gifts). When asked the questions about homosexuality, abortion, and other “hot-topic” items, she states “This is what I believe, it’s who I am. I don’t hate anyone or judge anyone.” 

              “My Christian faith is so meaningful to me, and it’s the foundation of who I am. It always goes before me, and I’ve never been shy to talk about my faith.” Candace Cameron Bure speaking to Woman’s Day magazine.

              2. Mark Wahlberg. LOL – that’s right I said it. He has turned his entire life around. Instead of just talking the talk of claiming to be a Christian, he is now showing us all what it is to be bold when we act on our faith. He is more mindful of the roles he plays (check out the new movie Father Stu), he has time reached out and shown humility and grace to fallen actor Mel Gibson, he has a very biblical approach to how his family operates and he puts Jesus front and center of his family. He isn’t perfect and his past life is full of flaws (JUST LIKE ALL OF US) – but he has reformed, refocused on Christ and is now acting bold in his faith.

              “My faith and my family are the most important things.” Mark Wahlberg speaking to Relevant magazine.

              3. Chip and Joanna Gaines. What could I possibly add to their bold actions. Well they opted to leave a very lucrative deal with HGTV (due to heat that HGTV was getting for the Gaines’ association with their church and their pastor’s position on homosexuality).  Instead of adding to HGTV’s hefty profits, when HGTV would not defend them or “decline to comment”, the Gaines informed HGTV that after that season, they were done. The waited a year and a half, introduced their own network, which runs on streaming platform owned and operated by the parent company of HGTV. HGTV attempted to replace the Gaines with another great show Home Town (Ben Napier and Erin Napier). It still is a bit representative of the values that the Gaines stand for, just not as prevalent. Not once during all of this did the Gaines ever stop supporting their church, the pastor or their values. They were bold and stood strong in their faith. 

              I am not here to call anyone out, or to say this way of living is better than your way of living. I am not a Judge. I am here to say AND SAY IT LOUD that the path to salvation is one way (JESUS) and that path is narrow, winding and sometimes very lonely. I saw a meme about the right-winged Jesus and left-winged Jesus. Even though it was meant to divide, it was basically stating truth. If we look at truth as neither left nor right, we see the entire picture. Yes we need to minister to the lost. Yes we need to have compassion for the sinners (because we all are). Yes we are supposed to love our enemies. BUT PLEASE STOP QUOTING ONLY THIS. Jesus came for all of us. He died for all of us. He sat with the sinners and told them about grace, love, forgiveness AND WAIT FOR IT…..REPENTANCE. How are we forgetting to teach this. Jesus said that in order to follow him you must:

1.       Deny yourself (stop being selfish, stop living for just yourself);

2.       Take up your cross (are you ready to die for your faith?);

3.       And FOLLOW HIM (he was without sin).

A    A note as to my lengthy time away:  

I was supposed to post this almost a month ago, and I am sorry for the late post. Life happened. Nothing I can share right now, just know that life the past 30 days has been a constant storm of chaos. Also in that time, there have been some legal decisions that have/will cause another summer of protest and anger. As a woman, I wish I could stand with the pro-choicers for “women’s rights”. But I cannot because my first allegiance is to God, my creator. As a Christian, I am happy someone made a law protecting “babies’ rights”. I could leave it there – but I am not, because our God is merciful God. Jesus is going to love and forgive a woman (no matter what choice she makes) if she believes in him, confesses her sins, forgives others and leads a repentant life.

Me being bold in faith – is me getting real about what is and isn’t acceptable to God and to stop pretending otherwise.

Have a great and blessed week!

 

Some links for you: 

Crisis Pregnancy Center - https://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=31655

Adoptions from the Heart - https://afth.org/pregnant/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Vici&gclid=CjwKCAjwzeqVBhAoEiwAOrEmzTubTKzsV_FB9RPapNgB6m_hRfWfeTKWIC2HKLDWKvCleB4fishMbRoCOWMQAvD_BwE

Christian Counselors – if you need to talk to someone (from the 757)

https://www.google.com/search?q=christian+counseling&rlz=1C1GCEV_en&oq=christian+counseling&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i457i512j0i402l2j0i512j46i175i199i512j0i512l4.2528j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Read more about following Jesus:

https://www.openbible.info/topics/following_jesus

Youtube video for the song for this week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3kQlzOi27M

             

"What Does it Mean to be Fruitful"

    It’s another week in my deep dive into the tunes that were the backdrop of my childhood and teen years. This week I try to bring clarity to the question, “What does it mean to be fruitful”. I am going to just say it, THIS QUESTION IS TOUGH FOR ME!

    I hit my sister up last week to gain some insight and she gave me some verses, and we will discuss those in a bit. I researched the subject on my own and felt like the subject is this giant circle of misunderstanding, understanding and diversion. The other complication this week, was song choice. Sometimes my questions don’t tie to a song, or at least I think they don’t. That’s when a trip to get a Whopper changed everything.

    I know a lot of people hate fast food, but sometimes a girl needs a whopper with cheese and no onions. There I was in a very long line and Michael Jackson’s song “Beat It” came on the radio. I loved me some Michael Jackson. His music was my elementary school days (Thriller), my middle school days (Bad) and my high school days (Dangerous).  My household only got cable in 1983 so that I (LOL – it was my Mama) could see the Thriller Video. Dad fell in love with ESPN and we (my Mama and me) watched Lifetime and MTV.

    So, there I was listening to “Beat It” and I decided to pull over after getting my food and eat in the car (it’s a bad a habit). I pulled up my music app and loaded the Bad album. I flipped through some songs and hit play on “Man in the Mirror”. I was crying and eating at the same time. That song always moves me to tears. That song, or should I say the video to that song, reminds me of one specific moment in my life. I remember that in the fall of 1987 a little toddler named Jessica McClure fell into a well in her back yard. She spent 56 hours in the well. Rescuers, including oil rig operators, brought in equipment and attempted a rescue that seemed impossible. I was at my best friend’s house on the evening that they were able to pull her up out of the well. It was so miraculous. Michael Jackson would use that moment as one of the scenes in the video that came out in February, 1988. I still cry to this day thinking about that miracle, those tired and relentless workers that worked to pull her out of that well. They showed love, patience and faithfulness in their efforts.

    And…that’s how I got to the song for this week. It’s “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson and was released in 1988. The song was written by Glen Ballard (think Wilson Phillips/Alanis Morissette) and Siedah Garrett (she sings on the several tracks on the Bad album). Michael Jackson and his producer, Quincy Jones were looking for a song to tie together the Bad album, a theme. They reviewed this song and felt it was like “sunshine on the world”. The song writer, Garrett, said “To make a difference on the outside, you have to first start from within”.

    I think that feeling of "Sunshine in the World" is exactly where we can start this week’s review of the question “What does it mean to be fruitful”.

    Where to begin this circle. I think the best place to start is with Jesus’ words and actions in Mark 11:13. Jesus is entering Jerusalem for the Passover (Spring). He sees a fig tree “in leaf”.  This means that it is an early bloomer with full leaves and should have fruit on it. With the expectation that the tree will have figs, he goes over to the tree and finds no fruit. He is dissatisfied with a tree that looks the part but has no substance. Jesus then curses the tree and make it wither and it becomes forever fruitless. This probably seems drastic to us readers but consider where this scene is in the bible. Jesus is OUT OF TIME and has been teaching in parables. He knows he needs to make the disciples see the actiona and consequences of the words he has been preaching. This is one of last few teachable acts before the crucifixion. This is about life and death. This is about sown seeds and harvest. This is about the foundation.

    Paul goes on to say in Galatians 5:22-23 (thank you Kim) what the fruit of the Spirit is. What are the fruits? They are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These things, these gifts, are what should be pouring out of you for the world to see. Your fruit to the world is sharing God’s gifts. If you live a Christ-centered life, then your very being should be overflowing with these gifts.

    The disciple John states in John 15:5 that Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. If we remain in and centered in Jesus, then Jesus remains in us. If we do that we will bear good and vast amounts of fruit. Without Jesus, we can do nothing. Let this sink in. It’s not a parable it’s an illustration. Our faith is a tree. The tree of God. Our connection to God is in the vines called Jesus. If we are nurturing our souls with Jesus than Jesus nourishes us, and we grow in God. We can’t exist without Jesus and God can’t be a part of us without Jesus. It is a connection and when that connection is rooted and cared for, we become a fully leafed branch on a fig tree with enough figs on it to feed the world.

    The fruit of Love can be summed up in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7,” Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.” To love fully and deeply means you must be unselfish and embrace faults in others and love no matter what. Your love for others should be reflected in your words, your actions, your moods, your desires, and passions for your fellow man. Our very hearts should hold the hand of a non-believer and shout “I LOVE YOU SO MUCH – I WANT TO SHARE MY HEART, JESUS, WITH YOU!”.

    Your actions should be full of joy and peace. Your love of Christ cause you to act like Christ. You should sit and talk among those that have no joy and no peace. Your overflowing fruit should be able to lighten their load and help them find calm and hope.

    Forbearance is patience. So when you interact with people, you should be patient and kind. You don’t know what they are going through when you interact with them. You should be able to show them Jesus through your actions. You may very well be the only version of Jesus they see in their day-to-day lives.

    At my local Burger King, one of the drive-thru workers always notices that I am playing K-Love or listening to a sermon by Pastor Tony Evans. The gentleman is openly homosexual, and he and I have exchanged pleasantries many a morning. So, me being a Christian and him being part of the LGBTQ+ community, one would assume that there would be no room to share faith or concern for one another. But we always smile, laugh, share a joke, and wish each other the best. On this morning the drive-thru had been full and the person in front of me had been very ugly to this man. I could see that his manager was stressed, and the manager’s tone and language were flustered and harsh. I looked at the worker and smiled. I apologized to him for the woman in front of me and that no one should ever be treated that way. He paused, recognized Tony Evans’ voice in my car and shared his knowledge about Pastor Evans. We both lightened the mood for a moment. His manager made a comment in the back and this man looked at me and said “please pray for me”. I looked him in the eyes and said absolutely you know I will. God used my fruit (of patience and kindness) to speak to that man.

    I experienced many blessings during my cancer journey. The kindness of strangers blew my mind. I saw people’s honest fruit. From meals, to calls, to volunteering to take me to treatments, to holding my hand and praying over me. People stepped up and let their heart speak when they had no words. It was beautiful.

    If we aim to live our lives like Jesus, then our fruit will overflow from us and touch everyone we interact with. It’s time to look at yourself and ask, how can I change to be more like Jesus? How can I show the world love, patience, kindness? How can I be faithful to my faith and serve a fallen world? The answer is Jesus. Read his words, walk his walk, do his work. Reach out to those in need. Care for the heartbroken. Don’t be part of the problem be the solution.

    So back to that fully leafed fig tree that Jesus came to. God wanted a fig and there was no fig there when all the signs pointed to figs being there – and then God destroyed it. Seriously read the Old Testament, this scene is played out in several verses. From Genesis to the prophets, God chose when to look down onto the heart of a people and JUDGE it. If they were not living fruitful and faithful lives, he removed his hand of protection. Jesus wanted to find a fig on a fig tree that was full of fig leaves. HE JUDGED IT to be FAKE. It was fruitless.

    None of us know the day that God is going to call our number and look to see if we have been rich in spirit and fruitful. Now is the time to check your foundation. Are you rooted? Are you getting nourished? Are you ready for the harvest? Are you providing fruit to others? I can’t answer these questions for you, only you can look in the mirror and see the honest reflection.

    If you are reading this today, then God is still giving you a chance to make that CHANGE! God gave the people of Noah’s day 120 years to get rooted, change their ways and become fruitful. Use this chance to let the words of Jesus into your heart. I promise you once his word enters your heart, you’ll be fruitful.

    I know this subject is harsh and can come across as judging or condemning, but really, the fruit of the spirit is how we all should live. We should be our best self every day.

    My subjects are going to keep getting a bit deeper as we progress with this series of questions of faith. Next week I am tackling a hot subject for us right now. “How to be Bold in Faith”.

    Have a blessed and fruitful week! 

    April

 

Lyrics to Man in the Mirror :

I’m gonna make a change

For once in my life

It’s gonna feel real good

Gonna make a difference

Gonna make it right

As I, turn up the collar on

My favorite winter coat

This wind is blowin’ my mind

I see the kids in the street

With not enough to eat

Who am I, to be blind pretending not to see their needs?

A summer’s disregard

A broken bottle top

And a one man’s soul

They follow each other on the wind ya know

Cause they go nowhere to go

That’s why I want you to know

I’m starting with the man in the mirror

I’m asking him to change his ways

And no message could’ve been any clearer

If they wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change

I’ve been a victim of a selfish kind of love

It’s time that I realize

That there are some with no home

Not a nickel to loan

Could it be really me pretending that they’re not alone?

A willow deeply scarred

Somebody’s broken heart

And a washed out dream

They follow the pattern of the wind, ya see

Cause they go no place to be

 That’s why I’m starting with me

I’m starting with the man in the mirror

I’m asking him to change his ways

And no message could’ve been any clearer

If you wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make that

CHANGE

I’m starting with the man in the mirror (oh yeah)

I’m asking him to change his ways (better change)

No message could’ve been any clearer

(If you wanna make the world a better place)

(Take a look at yourself and then make the change”

You can’t

(then you close your) close your, your mind

With the man in the mirror, oh yeah

I’m asking him to change his ways (better change)

No message could’ve been any clearer

If you wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change

Gonna feel real good now

I’m gonna make a change

It’s gonna feel real good

Come on (change)

Repeat

 

Video to Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps

 

Bible verses to help you understand the subject of good fruit/fruitful:

Mark 4:20

James 1:25

Ephesians 2:10

Matthew 7:18

Luke 6:43

Romans 7:5

Proverbs 11:30

Matthew 15:19

Galatians 5:22-23

John 15:5

 

Check out these amazing ministries that I am either a part of or that I fully support:

Vessels for God: https://www.vesselsforgod.com/about

Vessels for God is female based ministry for God. Their mission is to empower women to live in the fullness of who they are in Christ Jesus.

 

Crisis Pregnancy Center of Tidewater: https://cpcfriends.org/

They provide a Christ-centered aid to women and families involved in crisis-related pregnancies by offering real help for the present, hope for the future, and healing from the past.  

 

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews: https://www.ifcj.org/

They are a fellowship that bridge Christians and Jews that bring blessings and humanitarian care and life-saving aid to those in need. They are currently doing a mission to deliver life-saving aid to the large Jewish community stranded in war torn Ukraine.

 

Backpacks for the Homeless RVA: https://backpacksforthehomelessrva.com/

Shout out to a fellow high school alumnus of mine, Earnie Taylor. This is his passion and his creation.
They provide essentials to the homeless community in Richmond, Virginia.

 

 

 

 

Does God See Us? 

Is he looking out for us? 

    Welcome back to the 80’s.

    Another week and another deep dive into the music of my childhood and my biblical and spiritual questions. This week I tackle the question, “Does God see us, is he looking out for us?” Let’s be honest there’s no better song from the 1980’s about “spying” than the song I chose this week.

    The song “Every Breath You Take” was written by Sting and performed by the band The Police. There are so many interviews with Sting about the meaning and context of this song. But to sum it up, here are some of Sting’s thoughts about the song:

1. He wrote the song while he was in the middle of his first marriage falling apart and the start of a new relationship with the person that is now his second wife – and yes, these relationships overlapped. He was torn in emotion and dedication and this song, if you look at it lyrically, can be seen from those two separate points in his life.

2. He knows the song is sinister (stalker like) but didn’t think about it like that when he wrote it. He feels uneasy when people tell him that they danced at their wedding to it. Lol – because as he puts it “It is not a love song”. It is song about wanting to be seen by one person and not wanting to be seen by another.

    But for our reference and spiritual points, we will look at this song from two points of view, just like last week.  The entire song (minus the bridge) we will say is God’s point of view and the bridge is from our human point of view.

Here’s the song’s lyrics

Song: “Every Breath You Take” by the Police (Lyrics by Sting) – Year 1983

Every breath you take

And every move you make

Every bond you break

Every step you take

I’ll be watching you

Every single day

And every word you say

Every game you play

Every night you stay

I’ll be watching you

Oh, can’t you see

You belong to me?

How my poor heart aches

With every step you take

Every move you make

And every vow you break

Every smile you fake

Every claim you stake

I’ll be watching you

 

BRIDGE

Since you’ve been gone, I’ve been lost without a trace

I dream at night, I can only see your face

I look around, but it’s you I can’t replace

I feel so cold and I long for your embrace

I keep crying baby, baby please

 

Oh can’t you see

You belong to me

How my poor heart aches

With every step you take

Every move you make

And every vow you break

Every smile you fake

Every claim you stake

I’ll be watching you

Every move you make

Every step you take

I’ll be watching you

I’ll be watching

 

    Growing up, if my mama ever wanted to scare me into acting “right”, she’d either say “Wait until Tommy get’s home (my stepfather)” or if she really wanted me to squirm “You know Jesus can see you right now”.  That thought stuck in my head always. Whenever I would do something that bothered my conscience, I would think to myself “Jesus is watching”. However, that little voice stopped being heard between the years of 16 through 22.  The thing is, I know, as well as you, that God sees ALL. He knows ALL.

    I think for most of us, we only associated God’s watchful eye with our bad deeds.  The time we yelled at the cashier, the time we engaged in pre-marital relations, the time we stole the mascara from the drugstore, the time we lusted over George Clooney in that movie, etc. God’s watches those things with the same (I mean way better) love that a parent has when they see their child doing something wrong.  As a parent, I have witnessed my child do things that sting me. She has talked to me in a way that is hurtful. She has not always lived her life in line with Jesus. BUT I LOVE HER – NO MATTER WHAT. And that is how we must remind ourselves that God sees us. He sees us with loving, graceful eyes. Do our actions hurt him – YES. Does he love us anyway – YES. Does he still make room for us in heaven – YES (that’s why Jesus was sacrificed – so God could still look at us with love, favor, and grace).

    Keep in mind the next time you yell at a driver that cuts you off, that God is watching you, then forgive yourself and ask for forgiveness. Because God watches all our actions, including: the time you let the woman go in front of you at the store, the time you gave your last $5.00 to a homeless person, the time you spoke gracefully to an irate person – and calmed them down, the time you turned the other cheek and refused to go low. God sees our good things too. He celebrates these things in heaven.  He is our biggest cheerleader. God uses these “good deeds” to be the answer to someone else’s needs.  

    Even if we take out the “us” factor, God must watch us. Whether you know this or not, you are living your life on a gigantic “chess board” called Spiritual Warfare. There is a very active battle going on daily in our lives. Evil isn’t just a word; it is an actual reality. We are living in a world that is fallen, and at the present time, Satan has “dominion” over the world. I don’t mean that he has the total control, because God rules over all, sees all and if you’ve read the bible, he WINS ALL. But for the time being, God has allowed Satan to live in the world. There are demonic spirits and heavenly spirits that work daily to either tempt you to evil and sin or to keep you from evil and sin.  So, as pieces on the chess board, we are watched daily.

    This week’s song, in the lyrics I have chosen to associate with God’s perspective, is for lack of a better word “stalkerish”. Think about these words – from God’s point of view. “Oh, can’t you see, you belong to me, how my poor heart aches, with every step you take, every move you make, and every vow you break, every smile you fake, every claim you stake, I’ll be watching you, every move you make, every step you take, I’ll be watching you.”  We belong to God. God wants nothing more than for us to be with him. When we sin, we cause him heart ache. We break vows, we present our fake self to the world (think social media), and we make false claims, we lie. God sees all things.

    Now the bridge of the song, I have chosen to associate with mankind. Think about these words – from our point of view, a view that is longing to be close to Jesus. “Since you’ve been gone, I’ve been lost without a trace, I dream at night, I can only see your face, I look around, but it’s you I can’t replace, I feel so cold and I long for your embrace, I cry out Jesus please.” I cannot speak for you; I can only speak for myself; I have been here. I have been lost. I have been seeking. I have been in depths of the valley of the shadows of death where the only hope was JESUS. I have cried out Jesus please help me.

    Does God see us, is he looking out for us? Absolutely without a doubt – YES! Yes, he does, yes, he can, yes he will always look on us and look out for us. Even when you are about to drown in whatever is weighing you down, know that God is watching, he may be testing you, trying to get you to cry out “God help me, I can’t do this on my own”. He is always there, and that knowledge is what I have held on to these past few years of constant struggle. I am passed the place of “Why me” and am currently living in a moment of blessed grace. I accept that I may be tested, and that if God tests me, I know that he has great willed expectation and purpose for me.

    So, the next time you do something that is ungraceful, pause - - and look to the sky and smile. Say “my bad, I am so sorry, God please remind me to live with as much grace as I can and remind me that you are always graceful to me.”

    Next week, I will tackle the question, “Fruitful, what is it, what does it mean and how am I to be fruitful”.

    Have a wonderful and blessed week!

 

April 

 

Video of Song (Youtube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs

 

Look at this clip from the Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers  - it is the Eye of Sauron. It reminds me of the watchful eye and the battle for our soul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlsIby_ezNk

 

Verses to go to – when you need reassurance that God is watching you and watching over you.

Genesis 28:15 “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Psalm 121:8 “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”

Matthew 6:4 “So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Hebrews 4:13 “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Using Words!

 Does God hear us? 

     Join me over the next ten weeks, as I do a deep dive of tying my childhood songs to my daily spiritual questions and needs. I am a true believer that everything written, sung, performed can glorify God, if we let it.

    This week I ponder the question, “does God hear us”?

    This week’s flashback song is “Words” by Missing Persons

              Do you hear me

              Do you care

              Do you hear me

              Do you care

              My lips are moving and the sound’s coming out

              The words are audible, but I have my doubts

              That you realize what has been said

              You look at me as if you’re in a daze

              It’s like the feeling at the end of the page            

              When you realize you don’t know what you just read

              What are words for when no one listens anymore

              What are words for when no one listens

              What are words for when no one listens it’s no use talkin’ at all

              I might as well go up and talk to a wall

              ‘cause all the words are having no effect at all

              It’s a funny thing, am I all alone

              Something has to happen to change the direction

              What little filters through is giving you the wrong impression

              It’s a sorry state, I say to myself

              What are words for when no one listens anymore

              What are words for when no one listens

              What are words for when no one listens it’s no use talkin’ at all

              Do you hear me

              Do you care

              Do you hear me

              Do you care

              Let me get by

              Over your dead body

              Hope to see you soon

              When will I know

              Doors three feet wide with no locks open

              Walking always backwards in the faces of strangers

              Time could be my friend

              But it’s less than nowhere now

              Less than nowhere now

              Less than nowhere now

              Now

     As you can see by the lyrics of this up-tempo (new wave/dance) song from the 80’s, this person is seeking communication from someone and the words she/he is receiving are confusing, misleading and lead to nothing. This song I can see from two different perspectives.

    Perspective One:  a sole seeking words from Jesus and not being able to hear a response. To be completely honest, I think this is most believers on most days. We ask and ask, talk and pray and often times we hear nothing.

    I remember laying in bed one night, reading my bible looking for a word to calm my troubled mind. I was so weak and, in such discomfort, (during one of my chemo cycles), I just wanted a word to let me know it was all going to be good.  I said (out loud) “God just give me a word.”  I closed my eyes, flipped open the bible and pointed to a scripture. I opened my eyes and read “Give thanks to God”.  That was my word from God, give thanks.  I will admit I was a bit offended that in my pain, God was asking me to praise him. I let the word sit in my head and then I melted it down to my heart and I gave thanks to God.

    Sometimes we ask God for things, and we expect to see or hear that exact thing from God. That is not how God works. He doesn’t and has never done things on our terms, everything is done by his will and for his glory.

    Perspective Two: God also is waiting to hear from us. In the verse “I might as well go up and talk to a wall, ‘cause all the words are having no effect at all, It’s a funny thing, am I all alone, Something has to happen to change the direction, What little filters through is giving you the wrong impression,” I can see God sending us messages to all day, every day. They are in forms we may not recognize, songs, signs, license plates, a stranger walking by, he will use anything.  But we, as humans are very thick in the head. We ignore things, we tunnel vison our lives to focus only on what we deem to be important (phones, computers, tv, etc.).  And if we are only getting our “daily God word” from limited sources, or misleading sources, we may very well be getting a limited, bewildering impression of God.

    If you listen to some preachers, you may believe you can go outside scream out loud (pray) that you need a new car and expect one to be in your garage.  Yes, some spiritual leaders have twisted the word of God to be like some sort of “Santa Clause”.  When those people go through something bad, they have nothing firm to hold on to.  After all, Santa does not bring disease, he brings gifts and happiness. Therefore they will eventually spend  a lot of time angry and confused because they did not get what they thought they were promised. 

    So, WHAT ARE WORDS FOR IF NO ONE LISTENS?

    Truthfully, I seek daily the word of God.  Sometimes my exterior distractions prevent me from receiving the true words. I have to read, read again, listen to it via audio word, write about it, research it – all of that just to get the true word of God.

    God never said we will not suffer. He never said we would not go through trials. He knows we have questions and that is why he gave us his word and his promises. He promises us, in his words and through the sacrifice and resurrection of his son Jesus, that our troubles and pains will all end one day when we are reunited with him in Heaven. And for some of you that may need to hear this - he tells us don't be vengeful, do not hate, for true justice and vengeance belongs to the Lord. He will right the wrongs of this world - ONE DAY!

    If you don’t listen to the word of God, you can’t expect to receive the blessings of God. The bible is not just an overwhelming large book of names you can’t pronounce and words that you need a dictionary to understand. The bible is God’s book of love and promise to us.  Just so you understand how important God believes his word is and how he sees it as a key to our lives, think about the following:

1. The ten commandments were given to Moses 3 times. That’s right God so wanted us to know them he gave them to us 3 times. He orally gave them to Moses and Moses shared them with his people. Then Moses goes up to the holy mountain and God (THAT’S RIGHT GOD) cuts stone and carves out the commandments on stone tablets and gives them to Moses to set inside the Arc of the Covenant. Moses then drops and breaks them – and God at this point wants to basically wipe away mankind. Moses begs for forgiveness and God has him carve out the stone and etch in the commandments. So that is THREE times that God gives his words to his people. So, he obviously wanted them written down and studied.

2. God’s words are not for God; they are for us. God loves us so much that he willed man to write his words down for us to have for generations.

3. Jesus read and studied the scrolls (word of God) and emphasized how important the actual words of God were and are.

4. If you study the bible, you will come to understand that most of the 12 disciples of Jesus were “most likely” not very literate (or I’ll say they didn’t have much education to write). Most of the writers were scribes or assistants (Luke to Paul, Mark to Peter, etc.). Now, educationally speaking, Paul was a learned person, as he was studying to be a religious leader. Jesus used Paul’s “gifts” to spread his WORDS!!!! I am positive that if we had a complete history of those that were persecuting Jesus’ followers, we would find MANY – yet Jesus used the one that had the ability to read, write and TEACH!

    To sum up, yes God can hear you. God wants you to hear him. Use your words to speak to him daily. Use your quiet time to hear him directly. He wants a relationship with you. He wants to talk with you.

    Next week, I’ll tackle the question “Does he See me?”  

    Check out a mission that is close to my heart that provides critical spiritual guidance to women. I am so happy to be a part of this ministry:

Vessels for God

https://www.vesselsforgod.com/

 

This week’s links:

Song – “Words” by Missing Persons 1982

https://genius.com/Missing-persons-words-lyrics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IasCZL072fQ

 

Understanding the words of God

https://voices.lifeway.com/bible-theology/8-ways-to-better-understand-the-bible-when-it-seems-too-confusing/

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/explore-the-bible/how-to-understand-the-bible-21-simple-methods-for-a-deeper-understanding.html

 

Have a blessed week everyone,

April