Stacked Like a Deck of Cards

Habakkuk 2:10

10You have plotted the ruin of man peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

Judah suffered at the hands of Babylon. Though it was prophesied over and over by prophets of the Lord that Judah would be destroyed for its disobedience for a time, the destroyers themselves would be destroyed.  Babylon had no idea that it's conceited ways were being stacked against it like a deck of cards. The more cards stacked by destroying people and cities to add to it's supposed power, the more the Lord planned to deal and hand down punishment. Babylon is bondage whether then or now. Babylon doesn't have to be a physical place of bondage but can represent an emotional or spiritual bondage as well as people who incur bondage on others. Either way, any Babylon will be destroyed by the Lord's hands. Those who plot to put others in bondage have to answer to the Lord if they are touching one who belongs to the Lord. Our Lord is all knowing and all seeing. He knows what everyone thinks before they think it or even what they are going to say before they say it. The Lord is not a man that will tell a lie. When He says something will be destroyed believe it. When He says stop harming and using others, He means it. Babylon was proud and you know what the word says, pride goes before the fall.

Don't Let the Looks Fool You

1Samuel 16:7

7But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Samuel had been sent by the Lord to search for the next king of Israel. The people of Israel had chosen Saul. Saul refused to obey the Lord and the one whom the Lord sent. So the Lord decided that He would pick the next king. By the Lord picking the next king, he would not fail Israel, lead them astray and he would desire to obey the Lord. The people of Israel chose Saul based on his appearance. To them, he looked like a king. Samuel had to look past his judgements as well. Even if left to his own understanding, he would've chosen one of the other brothers. Samuel was not at the home of Jesse on his own accord. He was sent by the Lord and therefore he had to make the selection based on the Lord's understanding. And indeed our Savior comes from the root of David. David's heart truly desired God and to serve His people. Though based on his height, he would've been ruled out as king, but his heart was big.

We judge books by their covers everyday. But focusing on the looks instead of focusing on what's in the heart can prove to be a train wreck. Don't let the looks fool you.  When you fail to see beyond the surface, you get Saul. How do you get a David rather than a Saul in any situation? It's a simple answer really.  Consult the Lord. The Lord will tell you what to look for through the Holy Spirit. He will show you how the person treats others. He will show you their actions but most importantly, He will show you their heart, the compassion and eagerness to help. He will show you their disposition whether it be sunny or not. Don't let the looks fool you. Everything that looks good isn't good for you. The apple on the tree looked good to Eve but we know it was a disaster and Jesus had to be sent to redeem us. It's one thing to look like a king but it's quite another to have the servant heart of one.

What Kind of Price Tag?

Psalm 36:7

7How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

What kind of price tag can you put on love? Many think that love can be bought with money. It cannot be so. If it's bought and sold for money, it's not love. We are all entitled to true love. The truest love there is, is the love our Heavenly Father has for us. He gave up His Son. Jesus willingly shed His blood. Anyone can seek God no matter what their stature in life. He makes himself available and known to all who sincerely seek Him. He freely gave us Jesus and the Holy Spirit because He desires so much to be one with us. Who else is willing to hear the silent cries of your heart? Who else can give you peace when it seems there is no place to retreat? Who is the doctor in the sick room when you shouldn't have been able to walk?  Who can hide you from your enemies when it seems they are all around you? Again, what kind of price tag can you put on love? When you need a hug, He sends one with loving arms to greet you. When there is danger lurking He gives you the signal to go the other way. Again, what kind of price tag can you put on love?

Rejecting the Truth

John 12:37

37Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

Have you ever known someone to refuse to believe something even though they've seen it with their own eyes? Have you ever noticed they may even attempt to explain away what they saw? Denial of truth is a very serious phenomenon. We see it all the time. People are staring the truth right in the face but instead of acknowledging it, just don't want to see. How can you refuse a truth like Jesus? Or even a truth Jesus places in front of you? Jesus said it was because their eyes were blinded. Per the NIV Study Bible, God had blinded their eyes because their hearts were hardened. A hardened heart is one that is not easily penetrated, unfeeling, closed, harsh, severe or resentful according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. So what truth has Jesus given to you? Have you accepted it? Or have you like the Jews continued in your unbelief? What more does Jesus have to show you before you are willing to accept what He's showing you? How many more confirmations do you need to see? How many miracles does Jesus have to perform before you understand that He is real and we worship a living God? How many more times does He have to pull you out of a mess to understand He has the true direction for your life? When you get it, you'll really get it. Jesus was rejected on that cross for us. How many more times are you going to reject the sacrifice He made? How many more times are you going to reject His love? How many more times are you going to reject His protection and direction for your life? How many more times are you going to reject the truth?

Set on a Path

Good Morning Everyone,

No this is not a typical message. God has changed the direction. Today is about a testimony of being set on a path and giving away roses to those that deserve them.

You've read the thank yous I've given to my pastor, Rev. Medric C. Mills, III, assistant pastor, Prophetess Melvinia Williams and my church family recently. But there were others who God has used to put me on the path that would lead to the email devotionals and book Get Your JOY In The Morning! Those of you who have the book know I said I ran from God. Many of you don't know how.

The summer of 2006 I was asked to help out with Vacation Bible School (VBS). I agreed. I was hoping to be placed in the kitchen for dinner duty or the clean up crew. But no, I was placed with the teachers. The first day I knew something was happening in the atmosphere I just didn't know what. I kept saying, "God I feel like you're about to do something drastic but I just don't get it. Something feels really weird." Sure enough, I received a call from the church while at work the next day to say I had to take over the VBS fourth grade class because the teacher had a sudden leave of absence. Panic attack and high anxiety ensued me.  A minster at the education company I worked for, Letita, was there to calm me down. She laughed at me and said, "Get ready because you're being set on a path."  If you all could've heard the self-talk going on in my head at that moment; I was literally crying inside. I kept saying to myself, "What path? Are you serious? Is this a joke? If it is, God, it's really not funny! I knew you were doing something but did you have to do this?"  Letita continued to tell me that she was set on path to teach in a similar way. Truthfully, I didn't really want to hear that. I just wanted to hide. I got through VBS but had no idea it was just a set-up for the call I would received less than two months later.

I remember the day Mrs. Esther Marsh, a principal of Christian school and once head of the nominating committee of a former church, left me a voicemail saying I had been nominated to teach children in Sunday school. Personally, I thought she had the wrong number. I called back and made every excuse in the book for why I couldn't teach. Mrs. Marsh mentioned that everyone took notice of how I handled taking the reigns of the fourth grade VBS class. Like I said, I was set-up! She asked me to pray on it so I did. I was praying that God would change His mind.  Now many of you are thinking, "you worked at an education company so this isn't far fetched."  For years I wanted to work at that particular education company in Baltimore but not as a teacher. I wanted to be in the marketing department. God granted the desire of my heart. There I met a wonderful educator, Mrs. Jerrelle Francois also known as former Commissioner Francois. Ms. Jerrelle, as many of us loving call her, has been an educator for over 30yrs of young children and young adults. She really has the heart of a teacher and mentors many. I went crying to her about what I should do hoping she would tell me I wasn't equipped for it so I could be let off the hook. My hopes fell short. Ms. Jerrelle said, "It's an honor to teach and they're asking you to teach young children. It takes a special person with a lot of energy to keep up with young children. They nominated you so they see something in you."  I love you Ms. Jerrelle but at the moment, I wasn't really happy with you because it wasn't what I wanted to hear. That night I was on my friend, Pastor Atiba's, Bible study conference call and he was teaching on Isaiah 58 and how people ask God for things yet don't want to help meet the needs of others. At the end of the study he said a key phrase, "when you meet the needs in the body of Christ, God will meet your needs."  At the time I was in need of something. And it hit me God had a need and I needed to answer Him.

What does any of this have to do with Get Your JOY In The Morning? Well, God placed me at that particular branch of Zion at that time to bring out of me what I didn't realize was in me, the ability to teach. Three years later, the daily devotionals, which teach God's word through writing, came to pass. To every name I have mentioned in this testimony, I love you and I give you a rose in the spirit to say thank you. The path God has set for each of you reading this is a unique one. It's your path and as much as you may try to run like I did, I hope you see that you can run but you can't hide from God. He will continue to poke and prod away at you til you move on the path He has set for you.


P.S.  The Leap of Faith Show and the Leap of Faith Network will relaunch in January 2013 so get ready for new music, topics and Get Your JOY In The Morning segments!

Life Lessons

2Kings 11:1

1When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.

The royal family was actually that of David's line. After Ahaziah's death, David's family reclaimed the throne just as God promised David shortly after he became king. It was not just a promise to David but it was for our sakes because Jesus was from the line of David. Ahaziah had been king for only one year and was 22 when he reigned. He and his mother were descendants of Ahab. Do you remember Ahab? Ahab was the king who was married to Jezebel. Jezebel did not serve God but worshiped Baal (another term for Satan). Ahab allowed Jezebel to take control when he refused to speak up for himself and murder an innocent man. Jezebel also threatened the life of Elijah the prophet. Ahab who said he served God served Baal to keep Jezebel happy. She used her position as his wife and the one he slept with to control him and obtain what she wanted. She was a king's daughter also. The idea of whatever she wanted she would get. Hence the Jezebel spirit was born for those of you that have heard the term.  As the Word says in 2 Chronicles, Ahaziah walked in the ways of the House of Ahab and his mother encouraged his wrong doing. The same people who advised his father advised him and as the Word says it was to his undoing. Ahaziah's death put Athaliah at a place that she thought she would reclaim her family's position herself but no one can thwart the plans of God.

What does this story mean for you? There are at least four life lessons from this incident.  First, parents are supposed to encourage their children to walk the right way, the ways pleasing to God and teach them. If parents refuse and the sons and daughters decide they don't want to know God, it's to their own demise. Second, here's a classic case of generational problems and the spirits that can exist in a family. The only way out from under them is to serve God with a whole heart. Third, whatever in your life that is not of God MUST GO, including people. It's not just for your sake but for the sake of those you are responsible for. Ahaziah as a king surrounded himself with the wrong people and that's a bad choice. Fourth, what God puts in place will not be thwarted by anyone. One can attempt to delay it but know that anyone who fights God is in a losing battle. God is sovereign, meaning He has ALL power and authority.

What Spirit Is It?

Mark 5:9

9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

Jesus and the disciples had just entered the region of Gerasenes when a man possessed with a demon addressed him. When one refers to the spirit realm please note there are many spirits. The Holy Spirit is not the only spirit that exist. The problem is just as the Word says in Hosea 4:6, we perish from a lack of knowledge. Not only are there other spirits besides the Holy Spirit but just as the Holy Spirit can dominate someone, so too can another spirit. Anything other than the Holy Spirit is an evil spirit. Yes, Halloween is real folks and it's not a game. The door to these other spirits is the sin in one's life, innocently worshiping those things that are not of Christ, a severe neediness to fill a void in one's life, as well as generational issues that folks have not been delivered or set free from. The closer one gets to Jesus in their walk of faith, the more these unclean spirits will be revealed and can be removed. There are many who don't even know they are carrying them. But the biggest thing is to know what spirit is in operation. Believe it or not, God has given us that ability through discernment. Every person who calls Christ their Lord and Savior has been given a level of discernment. Discernment in the simplest form is to determine right from wrong or good from evil. Some have more of it than others. It's important to understand because everything that looks right with the natural eye may not be right when looking from spiritual eyes. Too many in the body of Christ have been walking around with their spiritual eyes closed and/or underdeveloped. The Word of God is for real and is just as true today is it was when it occurred and was written. King Solomon said himself in Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun. So what is in the Word of God is common to man. Stop taking the Word of God as just a good story-telling piece and really look at it from an instruction/teaching guide for your life. That way, when you encounter those spirits that are not holy, you can easily call them by name.