Illuminate My Path

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia^[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.

 ³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.^[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

 ⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.⁷ The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

 ⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your^[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

 ¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

 ¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

 ¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

 ¹⁸ At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

 ²¹ And Daniel remained there until the first year of King 

How can I say what my walk has been this past week?  Well a few trials….it’s a tough walk staying under that umbrella….  It was a little tough at work.  After doing fantastic wonderful, knowing that the Lord was with me… It even got to the point that I had my bosses talking about my achievements… which of course I did not like. I felt like that jinx me.but I had to remind myself, that with my growth that should not matter.  For some reason I realize that work is harder… I keep asking God what I need to be doing, what I need to do different. Of course I am looking for an easy yoke.

So now I start meditating, I like it, it makes me closer to God just for that moment.  I also find myself a lot more boisterous… that I have to hold back on my opinions, but something just would not let me shut up.  I was in church last week and there were this beautiful couple with this God bless baby.  I don’t know what made me wanted to push the guy up for prayers.  In so doing I realize that there was something heavy on the girls heart.   I stop to ask her if they were married, of which she told me no and I asked her, why not.  She told me that it was not something he wanted to do.  I do not know why I told her, listen who told him that it was his choice.  So somehow the message came to me to stop and speak to him, of which I did.  I bluntly told him that god is not going to bless you until you do that which is right and get marry and take care of your family.  Of course after I told him I felt like I should not of…. But you know what I don’t care, when you see I don’t do what the Lord ask me to do, I am usually the one getting the beating. 

Then a few things reminded me that the Lord is still with me, just keep my ears out for the next lesson to learn.  I was calling one of my owners and don’t ask me why I ended up praying for her, I did not know that she had a situation…. But God just used me that very moment to make that phone call and she was so appreciated, she even said that you had to call me this moment.  So many times you think that you are doing things for yourself, when God is using you.  It’s funny I realize that I love it when the good Lord uses me; it actually felt good to be able to help someone.

My other experience was at church, I had some trials, and I have not been able to figure it out.  But the message was that we need to pray for Israel the country and someone jumped in and said that yes the Muslims are trying to come against Israel.  OK, I really do not like anyone putting down any religion… I always tell people that God had 12 tribes and he called them to serve him differently.  They are good people as well as they are bad people… they are Muslims serving God the same living God, the God of Abraham.  They are fanatics in all religion, and that fanaticism comes from man believing that he is God and that they have the power to judge people.  That they know the mind of God.  We have this in all religion, and we simply have to listen to what God has to say to us individually.  Then there was this woman who came up for prayer, and she confessed that she was once a Gospel singer and all she wants to do is sing Jazz, like she does not want to do the gospel music anymore.  Because of this decision, she lost her marriage and apparently a lot of other things… and her only prayer is that she wanted to sing Jazz.  I kept looking at this woman and realize that this is a woman that served God and loved the lord, but the love is still there, it just shows you how devious the adversary can be.  What I saw was one of Gods Angels, that allowed the world to take her over, but I also saw that God loved her very much and he was not about to let her go.

 I realize that this is something that can happen to any one of us.  That why it is so important to get down on your knees and spend some time with God every day, asking for his blessings and to keep his protection over you at all times.  Sometimes you may want to get weary, but you cannot afford to do that, you cannot afford to put down your sword…. The fight is constant; god will continue to give us strength in all of our situations.

That is why this story of Daniel tells us that we may be in all situations, we cannot afford to stop having God feed through our veins, and it is a lesson that tells you to be strong in the Lord and his promises.  To be of good courage. For us to pray one for another.

So today my prayers goes out to Gods angel, who has lost her way… that the holy spirit may come in and administer, to heal her heart and her mind.  To bring back the joy and love she had for serving God.. To love him with all of her heart and all of her soul.  To understand that this world has nothing to offer us, it is only the goodness of the great Good God, that we exist, that we conquer over all diseases, poverty and heart aches.  It is him who does all things.  I believe in his promises and I believe that he will save you and restore all that you may think you had lost; I know he loves you and he will not let you go.

Oh bless my soul, oh my lord and all that is within me bless his holy holy name.

Faith

I always say the greatest fight is staying under that umbrella.  So you are serving God, god is in the middle of your life... he's creating miracles in your life and you know that the game is about to change.  I realize that when God steps into your life everything will change, it has to ....


You know today I had this conversation with a friend.  This is a person that has really seen the trials of life..went through a lot of changes in her life and through it all, never forgot God and kept close to her Bible and as she called herself a survivor through it all.  She is still out there working trying to put a life together... but God came along and cause a pause in her life, at first when it happened of course like all of us we believe that God is not hearing us and question why he is letting these things happen to us... But it is all happening for our good... we cannot see it but the Good and wonderful God can see it.  She was talking about this with her sister in law and her sister-in-law told her and I believe it to be true, she said " you know you have been fighting all your life that you do not know anything else, but now it is time for rest, you just simply have to relax".  It is true, God is just giving her a chance to sit still and have him take care of her for a change.


Being still is the hardest thing for us.  When I look at this woman I see faith... I see the seed of faith, and God is just growing her into her incarnation.  With everything that she has fought, her greatest worry is that one day she may end up with Alzheimer's, because her mother had it... Now her older brother is showing signs of it...her greatest fear is that this can happen to her.. and I feel her fear. I have no answer for her, only that God will hear her prayer and deliver her.   I cannot tell this to her, she is in a state of disbelief, so I know that I have to pray for her... but I do know that God will deliver her I feel it. You know ever since recovering from Breast cancer... I understand that fear and that concern.  You know I was taking the heaviest amount of Chemo for almost 6 months and a I found a church where god's people dwell and they rally and prayed with me and believed that God will cure me and he did, I personally heard his voice that I should not take anymore chemo, of which I told my doctor and it was surprising to him so he wanted me to be tested, the results came back that the cancer was gone.  At first the news was mind boggling because I knew that it was the Lords doing... and I was speechless, I could hardly speak but go to church and give God's praise for I know what he has done... but every time I feel like my friend, I know that God has deliver me from something awful and has brought me back from Sheol..but every time the adversary stays on my back and tries to rob you of your goodness by injecting your mind that what you know did happen, did not happen and the doubts come in every so often, that I believe that it is coming back and then I have to stop and beg God to help my short moments of disbelief, to help me work on overcoming that.  Those doubts, those disbelief is harder to fight than a chronic disease... but we know that God is able.

You know God did not only heal me, he also healed my finances and I wrestle the devil every day I am at work, because he believe that he can arrest my income from me.  I am here to tell him "get thee behind me" and I bind you in the name of Jesus that you be gone out of my life and my affairs, I place my work place now in Gods wonderful hands that the battle will be won and I will be victorious at all times at work.  God will use  my workplace to glorify his name and show his marvelous work.  I do not  know if I have been giving up, or trying to learn what God has in store, what is his next move.  Sometimes I often worry really how close am I to god, am I doing his work.  We get so caught up with our cares that we do not understand that we have God's work to do and that is to pass his word onto to others, to heal the sick and broken hearted.  To build lives and help others keep faith in God.

^{Psalm 36:}

¹ I have a message from God in my heart
   concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:^[b]
There is no fear of God
   before their eyes.

 ² In their own eyes they flatter themselves
   too much to detect or hate their sin.
³ The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
   they fail to act wisely or do good.
⁴ Even on their beds they plot evil;
   they commit themselves to a sinful course
   and do not reject what is wrong.
 ⁵ Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
   your faithfulness to the skies.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
   your justice like the great deep.
   You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
⁷ How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
   People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house;
   you give them drink from your river of delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
   in your light we see light.
 ¹⁰ Continue your love to those who know you,
   your righteousness to the upright in heart.
¹¹ May the foot of the proud not come against me,
   nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹² See how the evildoers lie fallen—
   thrown down, not able to rise!

The walk up the mountain

GROWTH

Well it has been interesting the last few days, a few things came up and a few miracles appeared.  The first miracle was God telling me who my Father was and where all of my help cometh.  I also believe that my daughter also learned a great lesson.  One of the great things about my mother, was that she did not only led us to believe how important God had to be in our lives but she also spread this over to her grandchildren.  My daughter started with little  beliefs like praying for snow on school days and it would somehow happen, sometimes even when it was not in the forecast.  So as her mother you know what I told her, "hey could you ask for money the same way and let it come down like snow in our house"  She would always tell me, "listen ma, you don't waste Gods time like that"  Usually at that point I would shut up, because I realize that she has her own personal relationship with God and I thought that was more important.  I remember telling her one day that I should let you pray for stuff because I believe that God for some reason listen to you.


My daughter knows that she is a miracle maker, but somehow also understands that you don't mess with God; she understands that the relationship is fragile and very important to her that she does not want God to ever have to think of her negatively and she wants that when she take those walks to talk with him that he would listen.  The most important thing is that she understands that this relationship is between her and God, it does not have me in it or any other family member, it is personal.  There is no one doing this for her it is something she created and know that it is real and that it works.  I am amazed because I feel like someone on the outside watching something developed that has nothing to do with me..and I have been amazed at her constant miracles that happen, especially when it gets to the point that God would tell me to step up and let her go in by herself and work things out...


Just recently I was able to be part of a wonderful experience that worked out for her...This time the miracle just dropped from the sky and it was done... I needed to do something for her that was very important and for some reason I could not be the one, because I had outdo my limit.  So a friend of mine stepped in automatically and said that they would do it, no problem.... but God got in the mix and said hey Guys remember me, I got this, who is her Father is it not I... well the good lord did not only fix the problem he made it perfect and divine.  He even sent his few angels before who knew that I had this situation on my mind to pray with me..... and he came through.  Well I was all excited and like I cannot even speak to say how wonderful and awesome God he is....my daughter took it so nice and easy and was ready to move on to the next, she simply decided to make a nice dinner for her and her God.


Folks its all about the relationship... my daughter knows it now and it took me a lot of years to understand that you had to create your relationship with him.  You have to know that he is real, the cross that Jesus died upon that it is real, the suffering to become our sacrificial lamb that it is real.  We have to give God thanks for his son Jesus, he is Gods sacred heart that he gave to this world, because of his love for us. Jesus said it that greater things will you do in his name.  I know you have heard the hymn:

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,

And all the world go free?

No, there’s a cross for everyone,

And there’s a cross for me.

It all comes back to staying under that umbrella....staying close to God, so how do we do that... first we knock on the door, open and let God in, let him know that you want to be a child of his and you want to be under his covenant.  You want to also ask him what it is that you want out of me, what can I do for you so that I may grow in grace. He is going to give you your cross and probably ask you, can you bear it...  Some of us are not ready as yet for it, we need to go and prepare ourselves for this elevation in status.  When you are ready and prepared for this and you say yes to God.. he will then show you your special place that he has set aside just for you and him to commune, to talk, to encourage, to support and fill you with love through out your journey.  Many of us are afraid of the cross.  There are many out there who knows who God is and are afraid...  What we are fearful of, giving up the world.  We have not the knowledge or the understanding to act on wisdom.

The hymn, “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?” originally read “Shall Simon bear the cross alone, and other saints be free.” Thomas Shepherd, the author, used his hymn after preaching about Simon Peter, who was believed to have been crucified upside down. Later, the hymn was altered to refer to Jesus. The hymn was written in 1693 and a year later, Shepherd made his own decision to take up the cross and follow Jesus. He left the Church of England, where he was pastor in a beautiful church building and became an independent preacher in Nottingham barn. He felt he could proclaim the true gospel of Christ.

The love of man for man

Luke 7:2-6 

² There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. ³ The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, ⁵ because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” ⁶ So Jesus went with them.
   He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

I had a conversation today, about someone thinking that no one loves them... it just seem to them that no matter where they go they have negative reactions with people.  As though their spirit goes to war with people.  Of course my first response is that I told them they have to pray..and of course what is everyone response "I pray and nothing happens..."  I had to explain to them, I thought I knew how to pray, but then I learned... through adversity I did not believe that I could of pray, I felt prayed out..
 I know how they felt.  But God did a renewal in me... he thought me how new he can be... Its like David renewal and newness with God, he was so excited that he told everyone to Sing a new song, make it jolly and gave it praise... because of Gods wonders.  I learned that I could not do without him..and I learned that when I pray now that I take my mind straight to his throne and Imagine I am in front of him and I am praying to him.. I become the child and I let him be the father.  Then I had to work very hard on obedience... it is very tough to want God to help you when you want to do your own thing.  Think about all the times that you fell into the mud and God took you out and washed you and showed you a new way.. he saved you; so now that you know gladness you forget about God, all of sudden you believe that you did all of that yourself.. so you put God back on the shelf... I heard someone said "that when God saves you, the adversity comes in right after to take it all away from you... to distract you .. to make you believe that the Good that happen did not happen."
The adversity does their job well and you have to do your work well and believe... Faith without work is no faith at all... you have to hang on to the hem of Christ's garment... just like a child hangs on to their mother's dress coat, when they do not want to be lost or be taken away.. its the same way during those times that we hang onto the hem of Christs garment and he will take you through the storm. When the storm is over is when we have to give God more reverence, because that is our vulnerable time.

Just remember weeping endures for a night but joy cometh in the morning....
I love this passage about the Centurion servant... whatever job you are doing you do your best... I always tell people I had to learn that I was not working for the Managers and Directors of my job... I come in to the office to first and foremost do Gods work and receive Gods paycheck... He is the one who makes it all happen.. I am very concerned about giving away Gods glory to man... Here is the Servant who was sick to death... but because of the love that his master had for him, he could not see him suffering.. he believe because of the person he was he deserve deliverance... so the centurion went out of his way to show this servant love... even though the servant thought he was not worthy...  It is God who sets your status.. It is God who give you the greatest amount of love, and he does not want anything out of it...  All I know is that we cannot do it without God.

I want to Give a big shout out to my wonderful praying sister Cathy and Pastor, Pastor Carol.. who knew I was concerned about a situation and was able to reach out... I want to thank God for that, for the prayers and the moment... it was just an example of how he will never leave you forsaken.... I want to thank you God for Pastor Carol and Cathy, may you continue to keep them under your umbrella of protection.. may you deliver them from all evil seen or unseen and may they be delivered in your grace to know your joy and happiness in all of their affairs.

Living in the moment under the umbrella

I don't know it has always been a dilemma to me learning to live in the world yet not of the world. I like to take things as small as they are and perfect it.  To hope to grow from that level.  I am learning to keep God in my life by bringing him close to me... as though he is at my side at all times.  Don't think I am crazy, but I talk in my mind to my God about the simplest thing.. If I have to go to a meeting I ask him to go with me, let it always be in my benefit always my good.  If I have to go to a party, to even make that a success.  I have learned that there is always an opportunity to illuminate God and resonate his presence no matter where you are.  I am learning to keep that umbrella over me, my biggest thing is listening to the voice and "Obeying"...  Sometimes God uses small little tests. Like yesterday, I was at a party and I told myself, enough with all of this carbs... take control.  They served us coffee and I looked around and did not see the desert tray, so I said to myself good, you do not need it and even if they bring out the dessert tray don't take it.  Eventually the dessert tray came out and what did I do..I let my friend next to me talk me into having the dessert... In the middle of eating the cake, you would never guess what happen.. my bridge fell out..when it happen I had to laugh and said to God," I know serious problems with obedience"  But lets give God his glory, he is an awesome Father.  I was very concerned about finding a Dentist now that is going to help me out and how much this is now going to cause me.  But God in his wonderful mercy helped me out.  I  made a phone call to find the nearest Dentist I could use and one that takes my insurance.  I figure even if they took my insurance I know that there is a lot of things that is not covered so this is going to be a big bill.  I called the Dentist who told me that the next appointment they had was not until April!  Now you could imagine what was going through my mind... but as I was on the phone with her, this voice kept telling me, do not accept that reach for what you want and you will get it... so somehow I kept her on the phone and kept talking with her.... so I told her that I cannot wait till April to get this fixed and she kept telling me that is how fill the dentist schedule is.  So she was able to move me up to the beginning of March, and then the voice kept saying "you can do better".  Somehow I kept talking to her and I told her, "listen I need to see someone sooner" I did not even have to beg further... she somehow came up with if I come in as an emergency, she can get me in right away..Then she asked me if my situation was an emergency... Well Yea!! so now I was moved up from march to a week and did not have to pay as much as I thought...  So my lesson in simple obedience.  Trying to stay under that umbrella...

Genesis 17 The Covenant of Circumcision

    ¹ When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty^[e]; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. ² Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

The Road Less Travel

This was my message from my niece: "You must walk through the valley to get to the Mountain".  Boy was she ever correct.  I am a breast cancer survivor... and the road was not easy....I am a black female, single parent two wonderful children...sole supporter...So it was very much important that I survive...So throughout all my struggles I held close to God... I have heard it said that there are times that you cannot pray... I never understood this until I went through this myself.  I have a strong faith in God or so I thought... but I learned that it was not enough.... all through my struggles with this disease, the requirement was for strength... strength that I did not know that I had... and every time I thought I was strong... I needed to be stronger...Every time I read the story about Jesus I never understood how Mary could of bear it all...now I understand..You have to hang on close to God, regardless of the storm around you and don't loose site that it is him first and everything else after. I had to recreate my relationship with god, I had to learn how to know his presence, how to hear his voice and I had to learn to Obey... huge!!  I had to seal my relationship with God, create a strong  foundation, make sure that they were no leaks and if they were to be able to realize it right away and fix it....I have entered into a brand new classroom, where my struggle is fighting on a daily basis to stay close and in his sight.   You can easily be distracted...