Today a cloud looms over the city, shedding tear drops of rain and bellowing from its belly a tormented roar, as thunder and lightening pierce through the eerily still morning sky. I step outside with my son in toe, jump into my car to transport him safely to the bus stop and all the while my heart stirs in my chest. There is nothing unusal about this feeling. Matter of fact, I experience it every morning as I watch the school bus swiftly pass me by, carrying my little one down the street and around the corner, finally diminishing into a faint yellow blur. It is then that I pick up my heart from the pit of my stomach, praying for the Lord's protection over him, until he arrives safely back into my arms.
This particular morning, after completing the routine, I get back into my vehicle and turn up the radio to one of my favorite gospel stations. I decide to take an extra lap around my neighborhood, engrossed by the conversation going on between the on-air personality and the caller. The caller is a mother of a recently deceased thirteen year-old girl. Between periods of sobbing, she attempts to verbalize a letter that was written to her by a nurse who took care of her terminally-ill child. The nurse starts off by thanking the mother for the opportunity to spend time with her daughter. She beautifully depicts a few fond memories and light pierces through every word, into my heart. As the mother reads on, her mourning flows out from a deep pit of despair and peaks into a brief period of joy as she reminisces upon the indescribable attributes of her daughter. She says, "I couldn't even dream up a more precious child even if I tried."
I can't even begin to imagine her loss and for a moment I experience guilt. I had no right to feel the sink hole that formed in the center of my chest. In just a matter of hours, my son will return home safely to me. But, this woman weeping on the other side of my stereo system doesn't have that luxury. How badly I want to wrap my arms around her, invite her into my home, and offer her a warm cup of comfort. I don't even so much as know her name, but I feel compelled to pray beyond the barrier of unfamiliarity, for in Christ she is my sister.
Mark 5:4 states, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Mourning comes in all shapes and forms. We may weigh out our losses in comparison with others. However, in God's eyes, our mourning is of equal value. We are all offered the same portion of comfort from His cup. All He asks of us is to receive it.
I encourage you, readers, to find somebody today who could use a warm cup of comfort. Stretch out your arms to them, invite them into your homes, and pour over them all the love God channels through you. We are called to be a body who encourages and edifies one another in His love. Are we worthy of this call? Are you willing to take the time out of your busy schedule to help a brother or sister in need? For those who are on the receiving end, please do not hide or shy away from the Source of comfort. I know sometimes we prefer to be alone in our despair, but there is love abounding, just waiting for you to accept the offer. As for the bereaved woman whose voice is forever etched on my heart, I pray that one day soon, your tears of sorrow will be replaced with tears of joy. You shall be comforted and it is here that the healing begins. I pray you do not allow His cup to pass your lips!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
The Fruition of Our Divine Vision
In my previous blog, I encouraged us all to redeem the time in which we live, imagining our lives as six months and counting, each day like the minute hand moving swiftly around the clock. I hope by now we all realize the importance of clinging on to our divine dreams, sharing them with others, and making a conscious effort to silence the mundane distractions that get in the way. I mentioned that sometimes we lay our dreams down to rest, unattended and malnourished due to neglect. We let them hide in the shadow of our fear--fear of failure, lack of resources, or going against the grain. We are human, therefore we are of common mind, an easy target for prey if not careful. Society and the media feed us lies that entice us to compromise and take the alternative route when God's promise seems so distant. We may be tempted to look to our right or left, intrigued by what our neighbors have and desiring it all the more. In our efforts to keep up with the Joneses or at least fit in with them, we lose sight of what God says we need. We become impatient and frustrated with our present circumstances until finally we jump on to the next best thing. We are a generation that could use a lesson or two on what scripture refers to as "longsuffering". Sometimes when we are waiting on God to move, our patience is tested. It can feel like a long, drawn-out, painful process, but it is well worth the wait!
Through all of our tarrying, God reminds us that there is encouragement in His word. An example of this is found in 1 Samuel 3. We are introduced to a young boy named Samuel who was physically called out by God and "established as a prophet of the Lord" (1 Samuel 3:20). The first word Samuel received from the Lord pertained to Eli, a priest whom he served personally in his childhood ministry. This comes at a time when prophetic ministry was not very prevalent. Scripture states "And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation" (1 Samuel 3:1). The Lord explained that judgement would be placed on Eli's household for the sins that his sons committed. After receiving this word, Samuel was afraid to share this information with Eli. When we consider the nature of the circumstance, I believe it is safe to assume Samuel was fearful for two reasons. Firstly, he may have been concerned that Eli wouldn't believe him. Secondly, he wanted to protect Eli from the news.
Some vital points can be drawn out of this passage in the bible. For one, we can associate ourselves with Samuel in a way that helps us understand what he may have been going through at the time. It is not often that our ears are in tune to receiving a confirmed word from the Lord. We oftentimes brush aside a prophetic vision or a calling out of fear of the unknown. We might question ourselves in various ways. How might others perceive the news? What if I step out on faith and fail? What will people think if I pursue a dream the Lord has placed on my heart? Samuel feared at first to share the news to Eli, but he was obedient. He hid nothing from him. The verse following states, "So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground" (1 Samuel 3:19). We need to remember that despite our present circumstances, no matter how far off or impossible the dream may seem, His words will never fall to the ground!
We must live by faith, believing what God speaks shall come to pass. In Habakkuk 2:3, the Lord states, "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." God may give us a vision days, months, or even years prior to its fruition. We may become disheartened when we expect the dream or vision to manifest in our lives right away. This is when many of us fall victim to the mentality of taking matters into our own hands. We start to challenge God in His timing and question if He is capable of ironing out the details. Have we not yet learned that He is in the driver's seat? Yes, the Lord promises that the destination shall be reached, but He never says how we will get there. He just wants to see us willingly waiting in the passenger seat.
We are ambassadors of God's faithfulness in this journey of life. We must prove ourselves worthy of the call. I mentioned earlier that there was no widespread revelation in the days of Samuel. In 1 Samuel 4:1, we find, however, that eventually the word of Samuel came to all of Israel as he allowed God to use him prophetically. What if Samuel shied away from his calling? This would have effected an entire nation. If we do not redeem the time, this season in our lives, we are missing out on a great part of our purpose. Making ourselves available and building the realization of a promise God places in our hearts are ways in which we share our dream with others. We will never know to what degree we can make a difference if we live in the shadow of our fear, lingering on the sidelines.
Even if we must write down what God quickens to our hearts, make sure you hold on to it. The Lord advises Habakkuk to "write the vision and make it plain on tablets..." (Habakkuk 2:1). We must meditate on it. Be filled with promise, purpose, and peace knowing that His word is never void. It is filled with hope and in its appointed time will speak truth! The world may come against you or tempt you with all it has to offer. But, hold out for what God has for you! Remember faith mixed in with a little patience and tenacity is what carries us to the promise land where the fruition of our divine vision manifests under His right hand.
Through all of our tarrying, God reminds us that there is encouragement in His word. An example of this is found in 1 Samuel 3. We are introduced to a young boy named Samuel who was physically called out by God and "established as a prophet of the Lord" (1 Samuel 3:20). The first word Samuel received from the Lord pertained to Eli, a priest whom he served personally in his childhood ministry. This comes at a time when prophetic ministry was not very prevalent. Scripture states "And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation" (1 Samuel 3:1). The Lord explained that judgement would be placed on Eli's household for the sins that his sons committed. After receiving this word, Samuel was afraid to share this information with Eli. When we consider the nature of the circumstance, I believe it is safe to assume Samuel was fearful for two reasons. Firstly, he may have been concerned that Eli wouldn't believe him. Secondly, he wanted to protect Eli from the news.
Some vital points can be drawn out of this passage in the bible. For one, we can associate ourselves with Samuel in a way that helps us understand what he may have been going through at the time. It is not often that our ears are in tune to receiving a confirmed word from the Lord. We oftentimes brush aside a prophetic vision or a calling out of fear of the unknown. We might question ourselves in various ways. How might others perceive the news? What if I step out on faith and fail? What will people think if I pursue a dream the Lord has placed on my heart? Samuel feared at first to share the news to Eli, but he was obedient. He hid nothing from him. The verse following states, "So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground" (1 Samuel 3:19). We need to remember that despite our present circumstances, no matter how far off or impossible the dream may seem, His words will never fall to the ground!
We must live by faith, believing what God speaks shall come to pass. In Habakkuk 2:3, the Lord states, "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." God may give us a vision days, months, or even years prior to its fruition. We may become disheartened when we expect the dream or vision to manifest in our lives right away. This is when many of us fall victim to the mentality of taking matters into our own hands. We start to challenge God in His timing and question if He is capable of ironing out the details. Have we not yet learned that He is in the driver's seat? Yes, the Lord promises that the destination shall be reached, but He never says how we will get there. He just wants to see us willingly waiting in the passenger seat.
We are ambassadors of God's faithfulness in this journey of life. We must prove ourselves worthy of the call. I mentioned earlier that there was no widespread revelation in the days of Samuel. In 1 Samuel 4:1, we find, however, that eventually the word of Samuel came to all of Israel as he allowed God to use him prophetically. What if Samuel shied away from his calling? This would have effected an entire nation. If we do not redeem the time, this season in our lives, we are missing out on a great part of our purpose. Making ourselves available and building the realization of a promise God places in our hearts are ways in which we share our dream with others. We will never know to what degree we can make a difference if we live in the shadow of our fear, lingering on the sidelines.
Even if we must write down what God quickens to our hearts, make sure you hold on to it. The Lord advises Habakkuk to "write the vision and make it plain on tablets..." (Habakkuk 2:1). We must meditate on it. Be filled with promise, purpose, and peace knowing that His word is never void. It is filled with hope and in its appointed time will speak truth! The world may come against you or tempt you with all it has to offer. But, hold out for what God has for you! Remember faith mixed in with a little patience and tenacity is what carries us to the promise land where the fruition of our divine vision manifests under His right hand.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
6 Months and Counting...
I stepped off the porch that bear-hugs our white colonial home, filled with childhood memories. I thought about how hard my parents worked to achieve the American Dream--a house in the suburbs and a two-car garage with cars to fill it. We as parents want so much more for our children, praying that they will dream bigger and live more abundantly than we did. But, sometimes we lose sight of the purpose of dreaming. As our territory becomes larger through life's experiences, our influence becomes greater, and our circle of family/friends expands. This in turn should remind us that our dreams are meant to be shared! We are not created to walk this journey alone. Now, here I am evaluating the dream I once had. Was it big enough for two? I begin to suck in air, let it fill my chest, and breathe life back into it, only this time I let go of my wants and examine the need. My son may not ever grow up in a house guarded by a white picket fence, but I pray he sees how much I love him, not by what I can provide for him, but how I show him.
The American dream tells us that we are to save money for a rainy day, settle for the sedan, purchase the house walking distance from our child's school, and wait. We wait for the day we can retire, eat the fruits of our labor, watch our grandchildren, and finally take up that hobby we so passionately enjoyed in our youth. In reality however, this isn't how most of our lives play out. We pay into a social security system that is no longer secure. Our bodies and minds are degenerating much faster than our ancestors, partly because we stare at a computer monitor daily that sits atop a desk in an office at a job that we hate! Yet, it ceases to amaze me, that we spend more hours there than at home where we should be building our dream instead of working to afford it. And so the story goes, we come home agitated because the house is a mess, dinner has not yet been prepared, and our little ones (while screaming for our attention) are in desperate need of a bubble bath and bed, not to mention a little quality time with us. All the while, we believe we have cut out our share of the pie, when in reality we have cut ourselves out from our lives, a little something we like to call sacrifice. Then, one day our Maker dots the i's and crosses the t's in the final draft of our story and we are left with a harsh realization. Life quickly blows out like the flint of a candle. And as for our legacy, prayerfully, it is not summed up by the money we left behind in our will.
It is sad, but true. We as humans try our hardest to create a makeshift heaven on earth. But there is no such thing as a perfect world. The only perfection we will ever face is in the promise of eternal life we receive through Jesus Christ. Some people believe we should stop dreaming until then. I don't. We can make our lives worth living if we step back, put it into perspective, and prioritize.
First and foremost, I propose that we stop putting things off for the future, all that we hope to accomplish in our old age. What if that day never comes? I would like for you to visualize the following scenario. One day you are driving and you audibly hear the voice of God. He briefly states that you have 6 months to live and advises that you get your affairs in order before then. Do you think your perspective would change? Would you prioritize your life a little differently? I'm sure none of us would say, "Wow, I really need to be putting in more hours at work!". On the contrary, I believe that most of us would invest our time wisely. How would you choose to live your life?
I might show my son how much I love him without saying a thing. We would ride bikes around the neighborhood and play with his matchbox car set without a care about where I should be or what work I need to complete. I might spend lunches in my sisters' school cafeteria and show up to every game. I might have dinner prepared for my parents before they step foot in the house, a simple gesture of thanks for all they have done. I might complete that project that is now buried under the rubble of fear and distractions. I might finally live!
As for my dream, I picture my life as six months and counting. I am working towards a legacy that is not defined by social status or material gain. It is an imprint left behind on the hearts of those whose lives I have touched, turning their attention and affection to the only One worthy of a legacy--Jesus Christ.
Please stay tuned to the sequel regarding our divine purpose and what scripture states about the fruition of dreams. Also, please take the time out to view a video I have recently posted entitled "Seize the Day" at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvNcXP4gDZU
Until next time, be encouraged! God bless!
The American dream tells us that we are to save money for a rainy day, settle for the sedan, purchase the house walking distance from our child's school, and wait. We wait for the day we can retire, eat the fruits of our labor, watch our grandchildren, and finally take up that hobby we so passionately enjoyed in our youth. In reality however, this isn't how most of our lives play out. We pay into a social security system that is no longer secure. Our bodies and minds are degenerating much faster than our ancestors, partly because we stare at a computer monitor daily that sits atop a desk in an office at a job that we hate! Yet, it ceases to amaze me, that we spend more hours there than at home where we should be building our dream instead of working to afford it. And so the story goes, we come home agitated because the house is a mess, dinner has not yet been prepared, and our little ones (while screaming for our attention) are in desperate need of a bubble bath and bed, not to mention a little quality time with us. All the while, we believe we have cut out our share of the pie, when in reality we have cut ourselves out from our lives, a little something we like to call sacrifice. Then, one day our Maker dots the i's and crosses the t's in the final draft of our story and we are left with a harsh realization. Life quickly blows out like the flint of a candle. And as for our legacy, prayerfully, it is not summed up by the money we left behind in our will.
It is sad, but true. We as humans try our hardest to create a makeshift heaven on earth. But there is no such thing as a perfect world. The only perfection we will ever face is in the promise of eternal life we receive through Jesus Christ. Some people believe we should stop dreaming until then. I don't. We can make our lives worth living if we step back, put it into perspective, and prioritize.
First and foremost, I propose that we stop putting things off for the future, all that we hope to accomplish in our old age. What if that day never comes? I would like for you to visualize the following scenario. One day you are driving and you audibly hear the voice of God. He briefly states that you have 6 months to live and advises that you get your affairs in order before then. Do you think your perspective would change? Would you prioritize your life a little differently? I'm sure none of us would say, "Wow, I really need to be putting in more hours at work!". On the contrary, I believe that most of us would invest our time wisely. How would you choose to live your life?
I might show my son how much I love him without saying a thing. We would ride bikes around the neighborhood and play with his matchbox car set without a care about where I should be or what work I need to complete. I might spend lunches in my sisters' school cafeteria and show up to every game. I might have dinner prepared for my parents before they step foot in the house, a simple gesture of thanks for all they have done. I might complete that project that is now buried under the rubble of fear and distractions. I might finally live!
As for my dream, I picture my life as six months and counting. I am working towards a legacy that is not defined by social status or material gain. It is an imprint left behind on the hearts of those whose lives I have touched, turning their attention and affection to the only One worthy of a legacy--Jesus Christ.
Please stay tuned to the sequel regarding our divine purpose and what scripture states about the fruition of dreams. Also, please take the time out to view a video I have recently posted entitled "Seize the Day" at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvNcXP4gDZU
Until next time, be encouraged! God bless!
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