It Wasn't the Nails

Matthew 27:50

 

50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.

 

Yield in the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary has a few definitions. A set of definitions are stated as: 1) Not rigid or stiff: flexible 2) submissive, compliant. A synonym surrender is listed. Why is this important? It wasn't the nails that caused Jesus to die. Jesus gave up His spirit. Remember, the guard had gone to pierce his side to help expedite the death of Jesus but Jesus had already done it. Jesus is the same one who walked on water in Matthew 14. He's the same one who healed the sick many times throughout. He turned water into wine. The winds and waves obeyed His command in Matthew 8, a woman touched His garment and was healed, He commanded the fig tree to die in Matthew 21, He fed 5,000 men with two fish and five loaves of bread. By the Holy Spirit He knew the hearts of men and was a prophet. So do you really think it was the nails that held Him to that cross on Calvary?

 

During my trip to the Holy Land Experience with family, I had the opportunity to see a replica of the nails that were used, the crown of thorns and even the replica of the tomb that couldn't hold Him. What could kill common man, couldn't kill Jesus. What held the common man, couldn't hold Jesus. Jesus even walked, talked and ate with the disciples after rising from the dead. Anything Jesus did regarding His life, was a choice of love. Yes, He allowed Himself to be captured after pleading with God to let things happen a different way. He allowed Himself to be put on the cross. but He really didn't have to stay there. He surrendered His spirit so His body would die the physical death for us. And then He arose so that death couldn't hold your spirit, my spirit and that of our loved ones. The next time you think about the love of Jesus, remember, it wasn't the nails that held Him.

 

 

 

Holding it Together

Matthew 11:29

 

29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 

 

God has been showing my egg yolk and speaking to me about egg yolks metaphorically for the last few days. I was fixing egg whites in an omelet the other day but I noticed that when I had used regular eggs, the egg stayed in place better. But when I used egg whites, things looked to be held together well until it was time to flip the omelet over. I kept hearing God when He said that people try to be healthy but when they leave Him out, they still fall apart. The yolk holds everything together. Now yolk is not to be confused with yoke. Per the New Kings James Version Study Bible, the yoke referred to in scripture is a "double harness in which two animals pulled together. Often, one harness was larger meant for the stronger, more experienced animal, while the smaller was used for the animal being trained." But if you go back to the egg white demonstration, after the personal training session I had last month, the trainer kept talking about using egg whites as a source of protein along with some meat. But if being healthy was only an outside tool, it would be easy to do. Health is inside and out. A few months ago I started getting therapeutic massages as a way to help reduce the stress I was under. Stress without rest, is futile. As a matter of fact, Jesus said to take up His yoke and we will find rest. The ultimate rest comes when we see Him as the source that we can go to for teaching, growth, comfort, healing, etc. The gym is a great place to blow off steam and massages can reduce stress also but it cannot heal the wounds in your heart. It cannot provide direction when you don't know where to go. Let Jesus' yoke be the yolk for your life to hold it together.

 

P.S. Please join me at Safe Shores, D.C 's Children Advocacy Center on Thursday, January 28th at 8:30am for Coffee for Kids and learn how you can help save a child's life from abuse. Email me directly if you are interested.

Was the Battle Really Lost?

Philippians 1:19-21

19For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Many of you are expecting a Christmas message this week. But for me there was a real struggle to get into the "Spirit" of Christmas until recently. Approximately a week before Thanksgiving, I was informed that one my cousins, one for whom some of you have prayed, was in the hospital battling breast cancer for the second time. When I arrived at the hospital I came in as her son came in. The nurse said I arrived before her release. This statement proved to be pivotal. I was informed that as my cousin whom I had enjoyed a few Redskins games with, prayed with and for, was ready to be transported to back to our home town. I was helping her son pack her things. She recognized me when I arrived. As I sat and waited with him. I realized through the Holy Spirit that part of my assignment was to prepare him. I learned that she had really suffered a set back in the middle of battling breast cancer. Stress had brought about another ailment and she became partially paralyzed on one side. It was one which helped her make up her mind and be at peace that maybe it was time. Where I from, when people who are sick say they want to go back to our home town, it means they are ready and prepared to die. As I saw her face, I saw the change. She did not like the same. But when her son explained the hospital was looking for a med transport to take her back to our home state, I saw her tears and discomfort. She thought they weren't coming. As I wiped her tears, I knew she was ready to die. My cousin stated the doctors were giving her until Thanksgiving but he hoped she would surpass. I explained that we must all be prepared for whatever God's will is. I had prayed for my cousin's healing for months but in seeing her suffering and her desire for it to end, I became at ease with God's will. As the med transport arrived, I kissed her on her forehead and told her I love her. She echoed the same. I cried in the car in the hospital parking lot, because I knew by the Holy Spirit, this was the last time.

My cousin passed over to the other side on Thanksgiving night less than a week later. The pain of losing a parent never goes away as my late Step-Dad's birthday is the week before Christmas and an emotional. It only gets a little better with time. But on the day of her home going service, I couldn't cry the same. I stood at the coffin with two other cousins, one a minister, and I said, many think she lost this battle but she won. The cousins stood in agreement. As the preacher began the service, he spoke of the scripture often used in 1Corinthians 15. That day, I really understood the meaning of Philippians 1:19-21. The verse 21 had been discussed at church just a couple of Sundays prior but it finally hit home. My late Dad's suffering was quick just as his death. My cousin desired an end to the pain and long-suffering. We thought it was to come through remission of the disease just as it happened before three years ago. But God had another plan. The ceasing of the pain came through the end of life here and the beginning of her eternal life with the Lord. Was the battle really lost? If you know Jesus Christ, absolutely not!!!

Happy Thanksgiving & Announcement

Good Morning and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Sharing food is a form of bonding but the gift of their presence and active appreciation for it is priceless.

 

 

For those of you in the Baltimore area, join me on Small Business Saturday, this Saturday, November 28th at Prayer Warriors Books & Gifts in Mondawmin Mall to pick up the perfect gift, Get Your JOY In The Morning! I will be there from 10am-4pm on Saturday and 12pm-6pm on Sunday.

 

 

 

Have Enough Faith

Matthew 14:29

 

29So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

 

 

Many people focus on Peter's fear and doubt from seeing the winds and his slipping. But the fact of the matter is, Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on water. It didn't say he tried to walk on water. Scripture says, he walked. Peter did what no one else had the courage to do. Peter had enough faith in Jesus that being on the water didn't scare him. It was the storm that came which diverted his attention. He didn't want to loose his balance on his way to Jesus. He forgot the reason Jesus was there. In that moment, Jesus was to hold him up. When you stepped out of the boat, out of your comfort zone to do whatever it is you normally wouldn't have done, who held you up? Who braced you so there would be no fall?  I recently visited Trinity Broadcasting Network's The Holy Land Experience. I had a chance to visit the recreation of walking on the water with Jesus. I was so excited when I saw it! People were allowed to actually step into the water in the exhibit. They even had the recreated boat Peter was in. Visualize yourself getting out of the boat and walking on the water to Jesus. What is that walking on the water moment for you? What step of faith have you taken, are taking or will take very soon? Jesus is on the other side, waiting for you. Have enough Faith.

 

 

 

 

Another Special Event

Good Evening,

 

I hope this message finds you well. For those of you in the Washington, D.C. area, I will be vending at the upcoming Liturgical Arts Concert on Saturday, November 7th. Please see the flyer below. Admission is FREE! Bring your family! I hope to see you there!

 

Blessings to you!

 

The Importance of Casting

John 21:5-6

 

5Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." 6And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

 

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines cast or casting as 1) throw, fling; 2) direct <~glance>;  3) to deposit a ballot formally; 4) to throw off, out or away: discard or shed; 5) compute, especially to add up; 6) to assign the parts of a play to actors, also to assign to a role or part;  7) to shape a substance by pouring in liquid or plastic form into a mold and letting harden without pressure; 8) to make as a knot or stitch by looping or catching up.

 

When film, TV and theater production companies what to fill a role, they put out a "casting call" or they make known their need and sees who may be interested. When Jesus asked Peter, Nathanael, Thomas and brothers James and John if they had any food they replied no. Jesus wanted them to state there was a need. Remember, God spoke things into existence. Jesus also spoke things into existence. What was needed had to be verbalized. The word says in the book of James, "You have not because you ask not." Then Jesus gave direction on where to "cast" or throw the net in order to get what was needed.

 

I had a client who had a need before his goal could be met. He thought his goal was being held up by the need. But in affect, failure to verbalize the need was what held him back from achieving the goal. God had planned for his goal to be met but not verbalizing the need and then asking God where to go delayed him by several weeks. We had a brief conversation and God showed me something. We had already had a discussion a few weeks ago but he hadn't moved on it. So it had to be said in a way he understood. God met the need just as quick as it came out of his mouth. He was so elated. Bless the Lord for what He has done! Why is this important? God did the same thing with me a few years ago. I had a need that I thought was holding up a project. Once I verbalized the need, God met the need immediately. Casting where God directs is designed to broaden the vision. What need have you failed to verbalize? Is Jesus trying to draw it out of you?