"I Have to Have It"

2Samuel 13:15

15Then Ammon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Ammon said to her, "Arise, be gone!"

All day yesterday God kept bringing to my remembrance the story of Tamar and Ammon. God did not bring the situation to my remembrance for the purpose of rape though it is a clear demonstration. The word says there is nothing new under the sun. And no situation known to man is new.

Tamar was a princess and the beautiful daughter of King David. She was the full sister of Absalom and the half sister of Ammon. Now Ammon knew Tamar to be a vigin but the word says he loved her and was distressed over her. So Ammon approached his buddy Jonadab. Jonadab told him by what scheme he could grab hold to Tamar's body and he used it. Just before overtaking Tamar, she attempted to reason with him saying if he wanted her that bad perhaps the command that kept him from legally being with her could be eased because King David was the ruler. The NKJ Study Bible mentions that King David provided the example of taking what belongs to someone else when he was with Bathsheba. But the word says Ammon would not heed Tamar's reasoning and overtook her.  But once he satisfied the way in which his body wanted her, his love turned to hate.

Ammon had no desire to show restraint though he knew he would disgrace Tamar. The NKJ Study Bible says that Ammon was intent on satisfying his lust regardless of the consequences. And that his attraction clearly turned to disgust. This is what Lust looks like. Once the craving is satisfied one no longer wants what they once desired. Lust is real and is often confused with love. Yes, the situation of rape is real too. But rape doesn't need to be the situation for lust to operate. Lust is not a respecter of sex. Lust can appear both in man and woman. And not all men and women are innocent as Tamar just to be clear. Ammon had the "I have to have it" scenario but once he got it, he realized he no longer wanted it. The fact that he did not approach the situation with Tamar in honesty but rather a scheme gives the foundation of what his intentions were.

A dear friend of mine shared something the other day that he wishes to teach young women under his care, "just because a man wants to sleep with you doesn't mean he loves you." And that is what Ammon demonstrated. He was never in love with her. He only desired to sleep with her.

How Bad Does It Stink?

Acts 8:3

3As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every home, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Saul was the man who stood in agreement with the stoning of Stephen the Deacon who was wrongly persecuted and turned over to the high priest by those in the church with jealous spirits. But an intervention by Christ changed all of it and then Saul became Paul, one of the greatest Apostles of the early church. The behavior he once engaged in he later disapproved  for himself as a man in Christ and from time to time referred to himself as one not worthy but grateful for the love of Christ. We are like Paul in that we have had some terrible habits and ways but an intervention with Christ brought us out. And once we saw how ugly those things were, we no longer wanted them for ourselves.

A natural example. My neighbor has been a smoker for 20+yrs. I hadn't seen her out on the porch lately. We spoke the other day and turns out she quit smoking 5months ago. She never smoked in the house because her son has asthma. But the neighbors on the other side of her still smoke and she can smell it when her windows are open. She said, "I didn't know how much cigarette smoke stinks until I quit. It smells awful." (This is not to pick on smokers but just to illustrate). My neighbor had no idea how bad her habit smelled until she was no longer in it. And she did it for more than 20years. In the spiritual this act is a modest example of deliverance which means to be freed from, brought out, to come out of the something.

We are all continued works in progress as our faith will not be complete until the day Christ returns. So is it time for another intervention with Christ in your life? Are there some bad habits and ways that Christ is about to interrupt and reveal to you just how much they stink?

Check Your Heart

2Samuel 24:1

1Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go number Israel and Judah."

Have you ever wondered why something is happening that seems so incredibly off that you know is not in line with God? Just as we know to be true and how the NKJ Study Bible also quotes in the translation, "God is still in control." The Lord was upset with Israel. But He allowed Satan to move on David that he would conduct a census. Now David had won many battles but he won because the Lord was with him. Conducting the census implied that David's victories were based on the strength and number of men not God. Now a few scriptures later, David is convicted in his heart about his actions and looks to the Lord for forgiveness. 

The NKJ Study Bible makes the following statement, " There is a difference between what God causes and what He allows. For those of you who are unaware, this is the difference between God's perfect will and His permissive will. There are times when God allows situations to reveal what is in the heart of man. In this case, it was David's pride which is a sin. Satan loves pride but God disdains it and brings a man low who is prideful as said in Proverbs. Remember Satan plays on ignorance and what already exists. In the film, "The Devil's Advocate," Satan (Al Pacino) tells the same thing to Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) who blames him for what happens. And even Satan reveals that he only played off of what was already in Kevin's heart.

P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Show Monday-Friday from 10am-12pm ET on www.lofnetwork.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

And it Came to Pass

Good Morning Everyone,

Today is not a typical message but valuable none the less.

Over the weekend I reconnected with two women at an event I each had not seen in exactly five years. In Biblical numerology, the number five stands for God's grace. I knew the women individually but was not aware that they knew each other. I first met each woman at a church just not the same one. The first woman, whom I will call, D,  I knew through the church where I was baptized but we had also worked together in Baltimore. The second woman whom I will call, V, I knew through the church where God developed the gift of teaching He placed in me. I used to interact with V's son. In each of their testimonies, God's grace was evident. V expressed wanting to write a book with her son chronicling his journey as one in need of a kidney transplant. And D and I had lunch five  years ago just before I became ill. D recalled our last conversation the moment I said I am now an author. In our last conversation five years ago, I expressed my desire to get back into writing. And it came to pass. And when V and I spoke, I immediately said to her, when you are ready, let me know and I will help. Each woman had experienced miracles over the last five years. And both D and V received tickets last minute. D said, "Our blessing is at this event. I can't tell you what it is, I just know we have to go."

When God allows you to accomplish something, never take the mindset that it is all about you. You are to help encourage others to move forward. It may not be the same purpose you have but whatever it is, encourage that they move forward the way God has designed for them.

P.S. Remember to join me this coming Saturday, June 15th at Caribou Coffee House at 2638 Chapel Lake Drive in Gambrills, MD from 3-5pm for the Pre-Release Book Signing & Reading of my new book, Shh Don't Tell. Copies will be available for purchase.

The Greatest Enemy

Proverbs 14:7-8

7Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips knowledge. 8The wisdom of the prudent is  to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

When King Solomon prayed to God for wisdom, indeed God answered with an overflow. The words God gave King Solomon were very clear. A fool in the Bible refers to anyone who willing lacks wisdom and knowledge. In other words, they delight in ignorance. But the Lord says in Hosea 4:6 that His people will perish from a lack of knowledge. So if God shows you that someone willingly lacks wisdom and knowledge, you are not to continue to be in their presence. King Solomon clearly says that you are to understand where you are going which implies moving forward. Fools do not care to understand.

If someone willingly cares not to gain the wisdom and knowledge of God that they may live and walk better spiritually, emotionally and even professionally,  then it doesn't matter how many times you speak or attempt to impart, they care not to receive it. You cannot force someone to grow who does not want to grow. When you realize that you are in the presence of someone such as this, you cannot continue to be around them lest they drag you down with them. Pray for them but continue to move forward. God has already given you the permission to move. Do not lament on what you cannot change.

Dr. Cindy Trimm says, "The greatest enemy of the church is not Satan but ignorance." Satan only plays on ignorance. If you are in the company of ignorance and do not flee, you can easily be played.

Hypocrisy

Matthew 15:7-8

7Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their hearts are far from me.

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about how defilement is from within. In this case it was from the perspective of honoring parents. The Pharisees had a lot of traditions but they were only motions. Their hearts were not in it. Jesus quoted a scripture from the book of Isaiah who was a prophet God called to prophesy about the coming of Jesus. Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites. A hypocrite is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings and who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. So Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah to say that if your words do not match your heart then it is off. Jesus is concerned with the condition of our hearts first because whatever is in the heart will undoubtedly come out sooner or later.

Atlantic Starr had a song back in the 80s' called, "If Your Heart Isn't In it". Granted, this was from a romantic point of view, but it was still about love. Love is at the center of Jesus' ministry. Love is at the root because God is love. But if everything you do is the opposite of love then is it not hypocrisy?

P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Show from 10am-12pm Monday-Friday on the Leap of Faith Network (www.lofnetwork.com) and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

Start Praying

Hebrews 11:1-2

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

My pastor at City of Restoration Christian Center preached an awesome sermon yesterday about "faith in the midst of filth".  But I had no idea that by the time I arrived home that God would present an opportunity. Always be in expectancy you just never know how God is going to "drop it" as the prophet of our house says.

I received an email notification that someone made a comment in one of the groups I am a member of on LinkedIn. A minister who works with soldiers and families had been weary. He started speaking on how he deals in reality with those he works with and just overall was not speaking in faith. So I gave my testimony and God laid it on my heart to pray for him because it is not good for the ones who encourage our soldiers to become weary. Now scripture says we are to pray for our leaders anyway. But you must pray for all leaders. It is important because the enemy likes to attack at the top to get to those the leaders cover. So if you pray in good faith for their protection, renewed strength in Jesus and sharpness, your prayer will be heard. Will you start praying for the leaders who cover you? Will you also pray for soldiers and those who encourage them as well?

P.S. Remember to join me on Saturday, June 15th at Caribou Coffee House on Chapel Lake Drive in Gambrills, MD from 3-5pm for the pre-release book signing and reading of my new book, "Shh Don't Tell!" I look forward to talking with you there!!