He Can Do Anything in His Name

John 14:12-14

 

12"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

 

A few years ago I recall a debate or a serious question someone asked about why when Christians pray do they say the words, "In Jesus Name" before ending the prayer. Now from the scripture above it makes logical sense but I want to talk about from a faith perspective. The verses above are from the section called "Answered Prayer" in John 14. The Word says in Hebrews that without faith, it is impossible to please the Heavenly Father. What does that mean? It means that if you pray for something but do not believe that what you are praying for will be answered, "then why should God answer it?" If you lack the belief yourself for what you pray for then the words mean nothing. The definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11. Paraphrased it means to believe what you cannot yet see. For me, this is personal.

 

Toward the end of 2014 God kept saying to me through the Holy Spirit that someone dear to me was not quite right health wise. I recognized feeling from when I lost a family member ten years ago. In March, the one dear to me asked me to embark on something together we had never done before. God said to me, "just say yes." So I did. I learned right before my 40th birthday that the doctors had found something in this person's lungs back in October of 2014 but the person was told in March. God confirmed. The way I was told I wasn't able to react emotionally. All I could do was listen. When they left my home, I cried out to God something fierce. That night I began listening to forever Jones' song, "You Can do Anything." From that moment on, I decided that my prayer to God would be that when this loved one went back to the doctors for a retest, there would be nothing for them to see. I even shared it the next day in the Lord's house. I enlisted some prayer warriors with me. Now the doctors told my loved one what they saw they believed to be benign or noncancerous. So that's what the loved one believed. But again, I believe, Jesus can do anything. The retest was done earlier this week. I kept asking for the results as I believed there would be nothing. On Wednesday, I received the call. When I returned the call the loved one said, "the doctors found nothing. I guess it must have dissolved or something." I shouted and blessed the Lord. And then I confessed what my prayer had been since May with the other prayer warriors. The entire time, the prayer was in the name of Jesus. The Lord who heals or Jehovah Rapha is in the name of Jesus. He is called by many names.

 

Just as the friends who lowered their friend down through the ceiling to get to Jesus on his mat/sick bed, it was through their faith in the name of Jesus that their friend was completely restored. This is why I wouldn't stop praising His name during worship today even when all else was quiet. The worship leader said, "no one can praise Him for you." Yes, Tracey, that's why I couldn't stop this afternoon.  If any of you have lacked faith before, let this serve as a testimony to you, Jesus can do anything in His name if you wholeheartedly believe.

What Price and/or Sacrifice Would You Make for a Child's Safety?

The Community Book Signing Event and Panel Discussion on Child Abuse Prevention is almost here! I am looking forward to meeting and speaking with each one of you! We have great panelists who are knowledgeable and desire to make the world a better place for children. I am hoping to connect you with resources for you and your children, or parents that you know so children in D.C. and throughout can be kept safe during this summer season. The conversation is bigger than discomfort about the subject. We want to help you so you can approach the subject with knowledge, wisdom and preventative measures. My book, "Shh Don't Tell" will also be available for purchase. What price and/or sacrifice would you make for a child's safety? See the flyer below and join us on THIS Thursday, July 9th from 6:30pm-8pm at Busboys and Poets Brookland in N.E. Washington, D.C. Admission is FREE. Follow the instructions below on how to register. Copy and paste the URL (website) in your browser or go to www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com

 

and go to the contact tab.

What Price and/or Sacrifice Would You Make?

Good Evening Everyone,

 

 

There is an update on the July 9th Community Book Signing Event and Panel Discussion. The time is from 6:30pm-8pm at Busboys and Poets Brookland. I hope you all understand that child abuse is beyond race, class and religion. It is an equal opportunity crime committed against our children. Washington, D.C. has the highest reported rate of child abuse in the country. Children who are abused are often done so by people they know. If you have children, know children or know someone with children, you cannot afford to miss this event. What price and/or sacrifice would you make for the safety of a child during this summer season or anytime? Follow the instructions in the flyer below on registering. See you there!

 

 

 

Closet Belief

John 12:42-43

 

42Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

 

There are more people who believe in Christ than those who confess Him. Jesus had just predicted His death on the cross and there were some who though seeing the miracles, signs and wonders refused to believe. But the rulers, those who knew the law best, those who had read about Him through the prophet Isaiah, knew exactly who they had in their midst. However, they enjoyed being in the spotlight and seats of honor under the law more and failed to confess with their mouths the true love that was being offered to them. The love of the position, authority, and spotlight - the false love, was more important than the pure love from Jesus and praise from God for accepting His Son.

 

Do you know anyone with closet belief? Of course you do. Who are they? Some of them are your co-workers, family members, coaches, etc who fear being seen differently for openly saying what they believe. In the U.S., freedom of religion exists. However, in some countries, they are not as blessed. They cannot even be seen with a Bible, or in a meeting that represents the belief in Christ. For them, everyday that they worship, everyday that leave their homes, they are at risk of being murdered for their love of Christ. Yet you and I, cannot be discriminated against for our beliefs. It is against the law.  You and I can openly worship and Praise God without risk of losing life. But why then the closet belief if one knows who Jesus is? Man becomes their god, and fear of not being connected paralyzes their confession. However, when you are connected to the source of life and light, you have the greatest and most powerful connection anyone could ever hope for. Jesus said that if you deny Him in the presence of man, He shall deny you in the presence of God.

 

P.S. Are you a parent, family member, mentor, etc? Join me and other panelists including Safe Shores, D.C. Children's Advocacy Center for a conversation on child abuse prevention during this summer and summer camp season on Thursday, July 9th from 6pm-8pm at Busboys and Poets Brookland. I will also be signing books. Admission is FREE just register at www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com on the contact tab. We want to help you keep your family safe.

You're Invited to a Special Community Book Signing Event and Panel Discussion

Are you a parent, family member, mentor, etc. in the D.C. area? Join us on July 9th from 6pm-8pm for a conversation on keeping children safe during the summer season. D.C. has the highest reported rate of child abuse in the country. Learn ways to protect your children. See flyer below for details.

 

 

 

Do it Unto the Lord

Colossians 3:23-24

 

23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

 

I had a very eye opening experience yesterday evening while sitting with a perspective student and her family. After many questions and much probing, what God told me in my spirit when I first spoke to her and her mother was confirmed. The type of work the young lady desired to do had nothing to do with why she was at the school and it was more her trying to please her mother to do something her mother actually desired to do. We are in a society where men and women have been taught somewhere along the way that if they do not have a glorious title with loads of cash that they are nothing. It is not so. Even what you think is insignificant can give God glory. How you say? I have seen God change the names and titles of many. I have seen God take someone from a "notable" profession and place them as a cashier. They think they are not giving God glory but in their time as a cashier, God is using them to minister to people, to give smiles, laughs and hugs to those who need and to be a light for Him. And they have received gifts and tokens for the joy of the Lord they bring to others. God removed me from one 9-5 profession to another. I once did not understand the purpose in it but glory to God! He has showed me time and time again about the work I do. A lot of my students hug me in the hallways and say they are grateful that I take time out for them. Seeing them happy and doing what they never thought they could do gives me joy because I know I am not looking at them as numbers but as people. I am not a teacher but I work in education. The experience I am getting where I am helps to make me better in the company God has tasked me to run which uplifts others. I am experiencing "on the job training" everyday. My favorite former choir director and now pastor of congressional care at the church where I was baptized, Rev. Caldwell, used to sing a song I so loved. It was called, "It'll be Alright if You Change My Name." God can change your name/title. Not as a punishment, but so that you may give glory to Him. Too many people give too much weight to titles and not to actually working and laboring. If you are doing your best, you give God glory. If you are doing the work not to please man but to please God, then you cannot help but to please man. And it is in that, where you represent Him and give Him glory.

 

What you do is not insignificant if you give your best in all you do. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be great but change your focus. Work for His glory not yours and you shall be blessed.

What Makes it Good?

Matthew 13:8

 

8But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

 

Jesus gave the parable of the sower and the different types of ground that the sower sowed seed into. But what is good? Remember, Jesus even said to the rich young ruler, "Why do you call me good?" Merriam-Webster's Dictionary gives the first definition of good as

 

1: of favorable character or tendency 2: bountiful, fertile, 3: comely, attractive, 4: suitable, fit 5: sound, whole, 6: agreeable, ample, 9: full, 10: well-founded, 11: legally valid or effectual 13: adequate, 14: conforming to a standard, 15: discriminating, 16:commendable, virtuous, 17: kind, 18: upper-class, 19: competent, 20: loyal, close

There are so many definitions of good but hone in on bountiful, fertile, suitable, legally valid, competent. In Matthew 7 Jesus talked about a tree that bears "good fruit."  Again, highlight the definitions of good. It is in our nature to think that just because you or I sow something that it is good ground. But in the parable of the sower, whether it is good does not rest with you or I but where the seed is sown, meaning the type of ground. And not every sower will yield the same amount even if sown in the same ground. Ground here can mean anything from a business, ministry,  project, relationship, etc. Our society is consumed with the level of results one has over another. But in actuality, it is about what God has deemed for that sower. What makes something good? The word says that God is not a man that He should lie. Therefore; when God says something is good, then it is. You can sow until the sun sets, but if God hasn't said that where you are sowing is good ground, you cannot expect a "good" harvest. What makes it good? If the plans God has given you line up with where you are sowing, then know that a good harvest will arrive. Remember, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty means that every good ground you sow seed may not yield the same amount. Your measuring stick on what the results should be may be off. Maybe you have thought that a harvest should only be in one area or plot of land. When in fact, God may deem that it comes from multiple sources just as their are multiple plots with different crops. And if you are surrounded by multiple sowers such as yourself, do not think that you all must reap the same amount or kind of harvest. What God has for you is for you. And therefore, your measuring stick must always be according to the plans that God has for your life as in Jeremiah 29:11. How God does it with you, for you and through you will not be exactly the same as someone else. Just remember that wherever God says to sow, it will be good. Trust Him.

 

P.S. SAVE THE DATE: Are you a parent, mentor or work/care for children in any capacity? Then put July 9th from 6pm-8pm on your calendar! A flyer is forthcoming. I am hosting a Community Book Signing Event and Panel Discussion on Child Abuse Prevention at Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC Brookland neighborhood. We are entering the summer camp season and must keep children safe. There will be some great experts on the panel and hope to see you there to talk, hug necks and sign books. The event is free to attend but you must register on http://www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com/ and fill out your information on the contact page.