The Will of the Lord

Ephesians 5:17-20

17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit 19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So how do you understand what the will of the Lord is? In order to understand the Lord's will you must be in communication with Him through prayer and be willing to stop and listen to what He says through His Holy Spirit. Sounds easy enough right? Many pray but don't take time to hear what the Lord is saying back. Yes, the Lord speaks but we do not always perceive as said in the book of Job. The Lord speaks in many ways. The way to be wise is to understand His will. Without the will of the Lord, the only wisdom one has is what they have learned from the world and how they see themselves in their own mind. But then is there anything that hinders you from understanding the will of the Lord? In this case, the apostle Paul is saying that being drunk hinders. And it does because one becomes under the influence of wine and spirits. Liquor stores sometimes have the "wine and spirits" listed because alcohol can alter a person. If you are altered and under the influence of something else, how can you hear and understand the will of the Lord? Alcohol isn't the only thing that can hinder one from understanding the will of the Lord. Whatever is your distraction whether food, phone, TV, a person,etc..whatever gets you so consumed.

Did you know the Lord can use music as part of His will? Yes, music sets the tone. Music brings about different feelings and can minister/encourage someone. It can be used to give praise to the Lord which is the primary purpose. A psalm is a song. David wrote many psalms. Before he was king, David used to play the harp to combat the evil spirit that would come upon King Saul. Music can be used to combat the enemy as David demonstrated. It is often used in worship service to break up the ground so when the preached word comes through God's servant, it will be received. The Lord can use someone to bring forth a particular song that someone or group needs to hear at a particular time. Do not take for granted when it said, "there is a song in my heart". It's there for a purpose. It is not for showcasing or showboating. It is all about encouraging as the Lord deems. I have been singing in church since I was baptized at age 16. The first time the Holy Spirit came upon in song I was 16yrs old. A heat that I cannot describe rose in my throat and head and as I briefly looked out on the congregation, the Holy Spirit made His way through the congregation. I was scared because no one told me it was possible. But the song wasn't for them, I was singing to the Lord. When I sing, it is not about my glory but rather His glory. I imagine I am before His face and want to give Him all I have. I love the Lord.

P.S. You now have two invitations. You have one for my home church, City of Restoration Christian Center's "Reviving the Fire" for September 25-27 at 7pm nightly. And you also have the DC Community Book Signing & Reading/Q&A I will be doing on October 5th from 2-4pm. I look forward to seeing you!!!

Shake it Off!

Matthew 10:14


14And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake the dust from your feet.


God is very serious about the value and ability to hear. Jesus was sending the twelve disciples out to those that were lost. And He gave clear instructions on what to do. By the way, even those of us who are in Jesus can be lost when we fail to do what God has said to do.  Jesus knew that some would not receive the disciples coming in His name just as they don't always receive Jesus. But Jesus gave instructions on this too. When the disciples depart from wherever God has sent them, those who do not receive them, shake the dust off their feet. In other words, it is no longer their concern. And on the day of judgement they will be dealt with. Did you know that Jesus can send anyone who is His follower? Yes, He can send you or I.  Did you know that judgement for refusal to hear the word of God and for not receiving the one Jesus sent isn't always reserved for the last day? The Lord can send anyone to give a timely word to an individual, a house or a city and if it is not received after being tested by the spirit as the word says, then it is not the fault of the one who brought the word of God but rather fault is on the one who refused to hear. And whatever consequence that comes for refusing that word is stamped.


Should the Lord ever send you and someone refuses to hear, shake it off! Should the Lord ever send someone to you and you refuse to hear, then they are to shake it off! And from that point on, it is between you and the Lord when that judgement comes which most who refuse to hear don't know when the judgement is coming unless He commanded someone to say it but you can never say HE did not speak.


P.S. I want to give a HUGE thank you to Natalie Dean, Founder of Whine & Cheese as well as Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Terri Dean, for allowing God to use you to help women of all facets! I am excited about our partnership and writing for yet another group across the country!!

Delaying Your Own Blessing

Hebrews 3:7-8

7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, 8Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of the trial in the wilderness.

Did you know that when the Israelites were in the desert they were in a trial? It was a long trial as it took 40years for them to go just a few steps. But God didn't keep them there just because He had nothing better to do. The Israelites delayed their own blessing by an entire generation due to their rebellion and grumbling. Can you imagine waiting 40years for something God promised you because you hardened your heart? It wasn't that God didn't want to give it to you but that you failed to be in the right position spiritually and physically to receive your blessing. Are you in a desert right now? How many years have you been there? Note that God still provided for the Israelites while they were in the desert but Moses spent so much time before God's face to keep back wrath because they were that rebellious regardless of how many times God performed miracles. God is still providing for you in your desert. The desert for each person is different. It's whatever aspect of your life that could be filled with God's favor or double portion of grace that simply is not.


Many take for granted the ability to hear God through the Holy Spirit. But what will happen when He goes quiet:? What will you do? To be able to hear God through the Holy Spirit is a precious gift. But when a gift goes unused or unopened, it can be taken away. What does it mean to hear? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines hear as 1) to perceive by the ear; 2) to gain knowledge of by hearing: learn; 3) heed: also attend; 4) to give a legal hearing to or take testimony from. If you have the ability to hear God through His Holy Spirit, through His word count it as more precious than rubies. Count it as pearls that you find hidden in clam shells. But more importantly, do as the Holy Spirit instructs before He takes away your ability to hear.

Seek the Right Favor

Proverbs 19:6

6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

King Solomon spoke of how many seek to be liked by who is considered to be in high standing or ranking leadership in the world. People seek their favor. But what about seeking the favor of God? God is higher than any man on earth.  Did you know that if you are obedient to God that you will have favor with both Him and man? His word is clear on that. But many are just happy to please who has a title. A title does not make a man great. What is in his heart and if he seeks the Lord makes him great. God will utilize him and show up in such a way that you will know God resides in him. If you reside in GOD, you are noble. His word says we are royal priesthood. So walking in HIM means you have nobility. According to the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, nobility is the quality or state of being noble 2) nobles considered as forming a class. Noble is defined as illustrious, famous, notable 2) of high rank, birth or station  3) excellent 4)stately 5) of a superior nature.

Yes HE will cause men to give to your bosom as the word says. The favor of God is greater than what any ONE man can give. Let God work in you and HIS favor also known as a double portion of grace, will be so evident that lost and wayward men will want to know God.

Real Power Belongs to God

2Kings 13:21

21So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

The prophet Elijah did not die but was carried away to heaven in the presence of his understudy Elisha. Elisha received a double portion of Elijah's anointing. Elisha once laid on a young boy's body and prayed and brought him back to life. Elisha's bones retained God's power after his own physical death. God has given the power of life and death in the tongue as said in Proverbs 18. Jesus retained His power after His physical death in order to come back to life. Jesus purposely did not show up during Lazarus' illness and waited til his death. He did it so He could bring Lazarus back to life. Jesus brought a young girl back to life. Through the Holy Spirit, the apostle Peter also brought someone back to life. Resurrection and reviving is nothing new.

In present day I have both friends and acquaintances who have died and come back to life. I have read about a young boy who died and came back as well as an older man. Why? God wants to demonstrate His power as He chooses to create witnesses to spread His word and His saving power. God has the power to do anything He so pleases. He can bestow that power among man or woman as He pleases as well.

Never play with God on anything! When God tells you to do something, it does not matter who will be upset, who doesn't like it, who may scoff at it or what penalty you think you might be subject to. He has already made provision and has His reasons that He has not yet revealed to you. JUST DO IT! Be real with Him because He will ALWAYS be real with you and show you who He is. Real power belongs to God and God alone!

Laying on of Hands is Real

Mark 7:33-34

33And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is "Be opened."

Luke 13:13

13And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

The purpose of the multiple scriptures is to show how Jesus actively laid hands on people. He didn't always have to lay hands for a miracle to take place. With the centurion's daughter, Jesus spoke and told the centurion to return to his daughter for she had been healed. Later in the book of Acts, after Pentecost, Peter spoke a word of healing over the man at the temple of Beautiful and then touched him and he too was healed. And Saul, who later became Paul, an apostle for the Lord, had the Damascus road experience with Christ who had already ascended to heaven yet Christ touched him. And leaders in the New Testament had been prayed over and had hands laid on them to be released into service. "In the Winning Attitude",  by John C. Maxwell, he talks of his experience of hands laid on him while he was a pastor.

I am not going to speak to you in detail about those experiences but rather, my own experiences today. The first time I recall having hands laid on me was shortly after I heard the Lord say that I would go into ministry. I was still at the church where I had been baptized. I had been going through a real spiritual battle and had been crying out to the Lord. A friend called me and said I had this urge to invite you to service today. I said I needed it because the generational curses from my family had been deepening. She did not understand because she had no idea what that meant but you can find it in scripture in Deuteronomy 28 after the blessings Fred Hammond sang about there are curses. But there is a cure. I digress. I attended service and during prayer the pastor came over to me and said, "Daughter, God has heard your cry about the generational curses over you." He touched me and I hit the floor. I do not remember much after that but when I arose, my body felt so much lighter. My friend came up to me saying, "Wow, you talked about the curses. I didn't know it was true!" The next time I was visiting a church where my college buddy was a minister in training and his children were being dedicated. There was an alter call. I had been going through at work being accused of things I did not do. The bishop began to speak about what I was going through and that I would come out unharmed. He then touched my throat declaring that I would speak for the Lord and talked about the blessings coming and then he spoke about sickness in body but declared that death would not take me. What he said about work came to pass. It took 3years for that sickness to rear its head but at the time every doctor I saw said nothing was wrong with me. I talk about the details of the sickness in the introduction of my book, "Get Your JOY In The Morning!" and in the short documentary film, "The Power of Femininity."


The next to the last encounter was after a business meeting on Saturday, December 15, 2007. I also speak about it in my first book. But I did not go into detail. I saw another bishop who I first met in NJ. He had not intended to be there but was on his way somewhere else when the car broke down and since he was nearby he and his group attended. When I went to speak to him he said I needed to sit down with his wife who was pastor of their church. She and I talked and she began to pray. Her daughter then came over and prayed with us also. Before I knew it, I was on the floor and there were people surrounding me. I heard prayers but their words were no longer the focus, the bishop touched my belly and said I was pregnant with purpose. And then I began pushing like I was giving birth. I cannot tell you what else happened but I felt like I had a midwife helping me to push. When they stood me up on my feet I was able to see there were seven men and women. I thought I was done. But God wasn't done with me yet. I could hear God through the Holy Spirit saying I had to say it. And before I knew it, my mouth opened and I confessed in a cry to the Lord that I would be His evangelist. Prior to that I had been working with children and was assisting in building another ministry whereby I was asked to be a youth pastor but that was not the role the Lord called me for. So I had to get in line with the call God had set aside for me. And within less than two years, Get Your JOY In The Morning came to be as well as the books and speaking engagements about walking in faith and purpose.

At City of Restoration Christian Center my assistant pastor, another anointed woman of God and my pastor had been with me as I was dealing with another generational issue and I recall them praying, before I knew it I was on the floor. I cannot tell you all that happened but I can tell  you that when I got up I was told that I would hear chains falling in the spirit and within a matter of few days I did and that was the final issue of the curses falling off of me. My response to the generational problems were different from that point on and that was the turning point. What I didn't understand was that Jesus is the only way to rid a family of the generational problems. Jesus shed His blood to deliver each and every person who desires. Serving and loving Jesus with a whole heart is the way to stop them.

From Sweet to Sour

Proverbs 13:10

10By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.

God provided King Solomon with wisdom on instances of pride several times in the book of Proverbs. There is a certain amount of pride that is acceptable such taking pride in what you do, to do your best. Or a loved one who is proud of their child, parent, significant other/spouse, family member, friend, etc for what they have completed or achieved. However, there is another level of pride that is not so lovely.

What is pride? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines pride by the not so lovely perspective as 1) conceit 2) justifiable self-respect 3)elation over an act or possession 4) haughty behavior: disdain 5)ostentatious display. Let us go deeper with the first definition. What is conceit? Conceit is an excessively high opinion of oneself or vanity. At this level of pride, as King Solomon describes, strife and arguments are more likely to erupt. Why? Because the person believes they have all the answers. But one who is humble is willing to accept information that can assist them. God is the source of true wisdom. And when God begins to dispense guidance and information whether directly through His Holy Spirit or a messenger that can keep you from sticky situations do you receive Him? Or do you create strife between you and He? It is likely that strife with Him will also be strife with those around you as your relationship with God is also reflected in your relationship with others. And then do you find yourself in problems that you need to ask Him to help you out of?  When you heed the Word and wisdom of God, you not only obtain wisdom but you avoid unnecessary problems.


Growing up I heard the term, "smelling yourself". When you begin to smell yourself and think you know better than the one who created you, sooner or later that sweet smell you think is in your nose turns sour. Do not become sour. Learn to seek God for all answers and before all ventures. Learn to seek the wisdom of the one who knows what the end will be.