"Wiped Clean"

I draw inspiration for these articles from different places. The inspiration for this one came from perusing the web and coming across an article on a site for an Atlanta online magazine called Rolling Out. The article was entitled “20 Natural Beauties and Famous Uglies!” by Zondra Hughes. It contained several pictures of some of today’s hottest female stars without make up, next to a picture of them with make up on. Their faces had been completely “wiped clean” of makeup. Some were described as less attractive or a “hot mess” without their Hollywood glam looks. That made me think women aren’t the only ones who go to great lengths to impress with their looks. Men also spend time and money on their looks. We all do. I know some females who won’t go anywhere without make up and some males who won’t leave home without perfect creases in their pants. Appearances are very important to us. It often leads people to judge or treat others a particular way, not to say that is right. Have you ever met someone so sharply dressed and refined that you thought he or she must be a person of high standards and importance? But once you got to know them, you found they were exactly the opposite of their outer appearance. I don’t know about you but I have been guilty of looking a person and assuming that he or she was a certain way solely based on looks. We do this to others but are outraged when it happens to us. You never truly know a person until you know what is in his or her heart. In the wake of the Trayvon Martin tragedy and the “Hoodie Revolution,” I think it is imperative to understand the importance of allowing a person’s heart rather than just their appearance to speak for them. Proverbs 27:19(NKJV) says, “As in water, face reveals face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.” And John 7:24(NKJV) says, “Do not judge according to appearance but judge with righteous judgment.” So let us remember this the next time we meet a stranger for the first time or observe someone who looks differently than we do. Because when it is all said and done, though our appearance and actions are important and God sees them, He also looks at the heart; and He knows all. Let Him wipe your heart clean like a woman without makeup and allow the beauty of His love and righteousness to permeate within you. Think about it. "Published in On the Rocks Arrest" 5/8/12

"No Matter What"

Love is such a short word. It has four letters but those letters put together make a very powerful word. When you think of love, you may think of your children, your parents or even your spouse. So many people look for love on a daily basis. Some are looking for love as the old saying goes, “in all the wrong places.”
Women often give birth to children in hopes of having someone to love them unconditionally. But what is unconditional love really? Webster defines love as a strong affection for another. Unconditional is defined as limitless or not having condition. Condition means having stipulations or modifications.
That being said, can we as mankind love one another, “unconditionally” really? Think about that person you once loved and thought you could not live without, yet you are no longer together for whatever reason. Think about that person that wronged you or hurt your feelings that you haven’t talked to in years. Was your love for them “unconditional”?
My daughter has a children’s book entitled “No matter what” by Debri Glori. The story is about a mother kangaroo telling her baby how much she loves them no matter what. Whether they make a mess or misbehave the mother kangaroo still loves them “no matter what.”
Isn’t that the same love Christ has for us? John 3:16 (NKJV) says, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus came, suffered, bled and died for the sins of the world. Luke 23 details Jesus’ journey to the cross to lay down His life for us. Luke 23:34 (NKJV) quotes Him saying “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.”
In the midst of being beaten, spat on and persecuted Jesus still loved enough to forgive, now that’s what I call loving “no matter what.” I Peter 4:8 (NKJV) says “and above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sin.” This lets us know that we can love in a greater way like Christ did.
In our society today, only love like Christ intended will cover hatred, racism, and other senseless actions of mankind. Be encouraged to love “no matter what.” Take the time to read I Cor. 13: 1-13, it tells the importance of pure love. But while you are reading and thinking on love don’t forget to give Christ your heart, because it is His love that we need most of all.
Think about it.
Published in "ON the Rocks Arrest" 4/17/12

Microwave God?

One minute feels terribly long sometimes like when you are sitting at the traffic light, ten minutes late for work, knowing you are still fifteen minutes away. Have you ever waited on someone to pick you up, but they were so many minutes late that you began to think they had forgotten you? As you wait all kinds of emotions set in from frustration to worry.
A minute may seem especially long, when you are ending a fast and standing in front of the microwave, watching the digital numbers tick down. I don’t have to tell you that we are a generation of impatient people. Don’t believe me? When was the last time you used a map instead of GPS? When was the last time you used an actual book dictionary instead of Google or a real phone book instead of the Yellow Pages online? Get my point?
Recently, as I stood in front of the microwave, preparing to end a fast, I watched my chicken and mashed potatoes spin on the tray. My stomach growled as the clock ticked down and the aromas escaped the machine. To get my mind off my hunger, I thought about a blessing that I have been waiting on from God for about three years. I thought, “Lord, I’ll be glad when You release my request to me because I’m as hungry for it as I am for that chicken in the microwave.”
Impatience got the better of me and I stopped the microwave with only fifty-eight seconds left to go. I pulled out the potatoes, stirred them, and took a taste. I was disappointed to find them still too cold in the center for my liking. As I placed them back inside I thought, “Good only fifty-eight seconds left.” Fifty-seven, fifty-six…then it hit me, what if God was like a microwave?
What if we could control the timer and set Him to release our blessing at will? Would we become so impatient to receive that we’d stop Him in the process, hindering Him from releasing the blessing at just the right temperature? Or would we become fearful and leave our blessing spinning so long that once we got it, it’d be too hot to handle?
Thinking on what I’m asking God for brings to mind my favorite scripture. Hebrews 10:35 NKJV says “Therefore do not cast away your confidence which has a great reward.” I know there is reward in waiting on God; Psalms 27:14 says “Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart, wait I say on the Lord.” These scriptures encouraged me to do just that. Though I have been waiting for what some would say is a long time for a particular release, I’ll keep waiting. I don’t want to stop the process and pull my blessing out before it’s time.
Are you waiting on anything from the Lord? If so, how are you waiting, patiently in prayer and peace of mind tapping your foot impatiently with your hand ready to hit “STOP” before the process is complete?
THINK ABOUT IT.
Published in "On the Rocks Arrest" 4/3/12