There Are Many Facets...

Matthew 26:35

 

35"Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.

 

God had been showing me this for a few days. Jesus had shared a very hard fact with the disciples which they were not ready to hear. He told them they would be made to stumble because of Him. However, Jesus gave them GOOD News. He told them, "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." Jesus already told them He would forgive them for the betrayal. And each of them insisted they wouldn't do what Jesus said they would. How can you tell the Savior who knows all things what you will and won't do? He knows you better than you know you. How many people have told you upfront that you would betray them and in so many words that they would forgive you? Hard pill to swallow right? Well what exactly does it mean to betray someone? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines betray as: 1) to lead astray: esp. seduce;  2) to deliver to an enemy;  3) abandon; 4) to prove unfaithful to; 5) to reveal unintentionally; also: show, indicate.

 

There are many facets of betrayal. How many have betrayed you based on the definition? How many have you betrayed? While you cannot speak for the actions done to you, you can speak to what you have done. Did you betray because you knew you would be forgiven? Or did you betray not thinking about it? Does already knowing you will be forgiven make it right? No. But we do it everyday with Jesus. How many others do we do this to? Our relationship with Christ is also reflective of our relationship with others.

 

Jesus knows you better than you know you. Are you thanking Jesus for the grace you receive? You know Jesus loves you. What about those who you betray? Are you thanking Jesus for the grace He provides in their hearts to forgive you too? Not because they stand to gain but because they love you.

 

Photos below of the thirty pieces of silver used to deliver Jesus to an enemy. And Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane with the disciples asleep in the background from my trip to TBN's Holy Land Experience

 

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Here's the Final Link w/Video of the Story from WUSA*9

Good Afternoon,

 

Here is the final link with video on the story from WUSA*9. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, mentors, teachers, babysitters, I URGE you to watch this video for the safety of the children you've been entrusted with. And for survivors, please know there is hope and life after abuse. You can still get help.

 

 

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/survivors-of-childhood-sexual-abuse/61962692

If You Missed Last Night's Broadcast on WUSA*9

Good Afternoon Everyone,

 

I hope you are having a productive day. If you missed last night's segment on WUSA*9 or are out of the viewing area, please see the link below for the story on  the WUSA*9 website. Please feel free to share with family and friends. It's an important subject that will not go away. It's a necessary conversation to help save the life of a child whom you impact.  http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/survivors-of-childhood-sexual-abuse/61962692

 

 

Blessings to you,

 

-Joy

It's Time for a Necessary Conversation

Good Evening All,

In recent weeks there has been an explosion of reports on child sexual abuse.  For those between the Baltimore/Washington corridor, you may have heard about a recent case in Prince George's County. WUSA9 News in Washington, D.C. has been reporting on the case. I, along with a few other survivors joined WUSA9 News for a panel and necessary conversation on child sexual abuse. Join me tonight on WUSA9 News at 11pm for the conversation. If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin or mentor, you can't afford to miss this conversation. It could very well save your child's life.



Urgent Request

Good Evening,

 

I pray you are well. Do you know the power of prayer? Do you know people pray for you whom you do not know? The Word says that the prayers of the righteous availeth much. Do you believe it to be so? Did you know there are people who pray for the nation we call home? Do you pray for the place you call home?

 

On the fateful day of 9/11/01, my Mom was in a building connected to the Pentagon via tunnel. My Mom had taken the elevator and didn't realize she was feeling the impact of the plane which crashed into it until she made it to the first floor, barely. She had just phoned me five minutes before urging me to be careful because of what we all witnessed on TV in New York City. We had no idea the terrorists where coming to where she was. She learned later that a co-worker was on that very plane and another one was on the side of the Pentagon where the plane hit. Her co-workers had died instantly.

 

I had a co-worker whose husband worked in the Pentagon. I and another co-worker had to muster the courage to tell her what happened and pray her husband had not died. My co-worker at that time was no where near a television or radio so she had no knowledge of the horrific images of terrorism. I learned in the days following that her husband was not on that side of the building but helped to pull out the bodies. Until this day, I still remember the vivid, heart-wrenching descriptions.

I still had the courage to get on a plane bound for a friend's wedding in Jamaica four days after  on 9/15. It was paid for months prior. We ended up stuck on the runway as the government halted ALL international flights. The airline was not allowed to release us but had to put us up in a hotel nearby while all of our backgrounds were being checked. I called my Mom from the hotel room. In tears, My Mom said she hoped I could get far away as soon as possible. I never made it to Jamaica. I had other co-workers attempting to come back from a conference but were stuck in Canada. They ended up returning to the U.S. by bus because flights into the country were banned.  I will NEVER forget that day and the days that followed. But I also know that day could've been much worse had the prayers of a few whom God revealed it to had not gone up. Surely, Amos 3:7 was at hand. Some of you may have your own 9/11 testimonies and I know you will never forget them. I urge you to read the attached request and move to action.

 

Many blessings to you and your family,

-Joy



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.