Rap Sheet!

Imagine you were raised in a strained under privilege home. Your mother is now elderly and your father has passed. However when your father was alive he was somewhat of a well-known gangster and vigilante. You feel the need to uphold his legacy especially since you were named after him.

As a teen you didn’t make the best choices and now as an adult you feel oppressed by the society in which you live and you are determined to do something about it.

The company of men with whom you travel have great respect for your craftiness. You are known to “get things done”. The fellows look up to you and your ability to thieve and create anarchy when and where needed.

To you, it feels like the government, and everyone around you is against you so you are determined to make a change. And if you can’t cause change you will at least cause uproar and get the attention of your oppressors. You are not one to idly stand by and be mistreated by anyone even if they are people of power.  

Then, one day, you find yourself in court. Accused of many crimes as well as government conspiracy, and you know you are guilty. While you are being processed and sentenced another man stands trail that day as well.

Just before you are sentenced to death, you are told that you are free to go, that someone else will be executed in your place. Astounded you leave the prison and wonder how in the world you, an admitted guilty man, have been released.

The “you” in this story is Barabbas. The Bible doesn’t really tell a whole lot about him but what we all know is that he was a known criminal, guilty as charged, yet he was set free and replaced by an innocent man, Jesus. Barabbas deserved to die for his crimes according to the laws of his time. Could that have really been you, or any of us? What is it that we deserve? For the lies we have told, for the things we have stolen?

You say “I’m not a liar or a thief”, ok have you ever been late for work but adjusted your time because no one saw you? Have you ever taken a few supplies from the closet at work that you didn’t pay or ask for? Have you ever told someone you didn’t do something that you know you did do, just trying to spare their feelings? Have you ever robbed your family of your time and attention? Have you ever murdered anyone with your words or a mean glare?

Even before you were born, before your parents knew each other…for that matter before they were born, an innocent Man died for your sake.

Much like Barabbas you have been given a second chance. The Bible doesn’t go into detail about what Barabbas did after he was set free. We don’t know if he was able to thank Jesus for his great sacrifice, in word or in deed. We don’t know if he ran out, rejoiced and let people know how much he was appreciative for his life! He could have become a great preacher or he could have returned to his life of crime. You see that’s the thing about God, He allows us to choose.   So, what will you do, to repay Jesus for giving you a second chance? Because if you have sinned in anyway even once, which we all have, (Ps. 51:5) He has given you a second chance just by allowing you to wake up and read this article.

He already took your place, He died so that we may live, and it’s not just a cliché.

He shed innocent blood for us all to have eternal life, you don’t and never will have enough money to repay Him for that. He wants your life, your devotion. But guess what when you give Him your life to repay Him, He continues to give you more! Peace, love and joy are just a few of the benefits of living for Christ. Wow, an innocent man died for me and all I owe him is my life, yet after I pay Him that, he continues to give to me!  And get this, He doesn’t just give to me, He pours down his blessings even on those who don’t deserve them. (Matt 5:45) Yet, how much more will He give to those who live upright before Him? 

What man do you know that would do all this? (John 15:13)

HE gives us all this and only asks us for one thing…to serve Him.

SO what’s on your rap sheet?

It doesn’t matter how bad it seems, Jesus already took the rap for you! 

Think about it.

"TWISTED"

Sometimes the smallest unexpected things can turn your day upside down.  I am a stickler for being on time! Recently I was preparing to host a couple’s dinner at my church and I was pressed for time. The guests were soon to arrive and I still had about three tasks to attend to before I would be free to greet them. While finishing my tasks, I needed some string to tie around the top of a few prizes.

 

The only string I could find was really thin, but since I was pressed for time, I had to make it work. I quickly grabbed it and headed to the prize table. As I began preparing the prizes, some of the string got twisted up. Knowing my guests would be walking in any moment, my frustration mounted as I tried desperately to untwist the string.

I began frantically yanking on the twisted string and guess what happened, it got worse! Frustration turned into panic and hurriedly I continued to try to untwist the string to no avail. Mind you it was twisted not knotted, but as I continued to yank, it was becoming knotted. And suddenly I heard a voice say, “slow down, take your time and it will work out.” So I took a deep breath and stopped for a second. I closed my eyes and refocused my mind. When I opened my eyes, I looked down at the twisted string then calmly, patiently began to take my time and untwist it. Before I knew it, I was done. I finished my tasks and was ready for the event to begin on time.

So what’s the point of my sharing this story? Well it’s simple. That twisted string really threw me for a loop just like twisted circumstances in life can.  There may come times when you just don’t expect things to get all “twisted up,” but they do. It is at those times we must call on inner strength and patience. Sometimes we just need to stop and refocus on what’s going on and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us. He can bring calm and peace in the middle of twisted situations.  Often times we allow troubles in life to make us become so frustrated and distracted that we forget to calm down and look to Christ for peace.

In John 14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

So the next time your life feels all “twisted up,” look to Jesus for Divine strength and peace!

Think about it!

No backing down!

In 1942 training at Camp Hood in Texas birth the 761^st Battalion also known as the Black Panther Tank Battalion). These men were given a superior army ranking by the Second Army Commander.  Many may not know this but baseball legend Jackie Robinson was an officer of the 761^st but he was not allowed to deploy because of a race incident that acquired on his bus. The unit ventured off to Europe under the leadership of General S. Patton Jr.   Made up of fearless men who refused to back down under pressure, the 761^st endured 183 days of continuous fighting as the first black unit to fight in Battle of the Bulge. They fought in France, Belgium, and Germany and were among the first in the military to meet the Soviet Army at a River in Austria.

Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers of the 761st was a valiant solider who was severely injured on November 16, 1944. His tank hit a mine in France and although his leg was injured down to the bone, he refused any pain injections so as to not deter him from his duties.  On November 19, three days after the attack, the unit was under enemy fire. Instead of heeding the warning of Capt. David Williams, Staff Sgt. Rivers took on the barrage of German anti-tank guns. He was killed in action and others were wounded, but his actions allowed the fellow soldiers of Company A to escape alive. He posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery and heroism. 
(source www.blackamericaweb.com)

America is still looking for soldiers to fight and protect our boarders. And I believe Christ is still looking for soldiers to stand up and fight satan, by declaring His word all over the world. Just as the 761^st were not afraid of battle we as Christian cannot be afraid to speak the truth whether people want to hear it or not. God’s word is right and it is true so we can’t be ashamed to proclaim it. Luke 9:26 says, “For whosoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory and in His Father’s and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.” I don’t know about you but I don’t think there is a higher honor anyone can give you than that of eternal life. And that is the reward given by God Himself, the Ultimate Commander to those who stand bold, life for Him and refuse to back down!
Think about it!

CHOPPED!

One of my favorite television shows is a competition cooking show on the Food Network channel called, “Chopped.” The other day while watching it for the millionth time, it inspired me and made me think about the Christian walk. On the show four chefs face off for a chance to win $10,000.00. During the competition, they are challenged to make a meal from ingredients in a mystery basket. They have no idea what’s in the basket until the host allows them to open it. Once they do they discover an array of odd items like, chicken feet, blood oranges, canned rabbit, asparagus, bitter-sweet chocolate and pickled peppers. They are to take these items and create a tasty dish for the judges. They are asked to prepare the food in three rounds, appetizer, entree and dessert being judged on presentation, taste and creativity. After each round one contestant is eliminated or “chopped.”

There are three judges who critique their meals and decided who will advance from round to round. To help them create their best dish they are allowed to work in a state of the art kitchen, loaded with the finest cookware, utensils, spices and other items needed to make a meal. During each round of the competition they are not only competing against each other but they are racing against the clock, being allowed only twenty minutes for the appetizer round, and thirty minutes for the entree and dessert rounds. I’m sure by now you are saying Gena-Mae where are you going with this?

Well, we are like the chefs on Chopped. Life is the basket of unexpected things, thrown together and thrown at us all at once sometimes. It is up to us to take those things and make the best of what we have, and not to allow circumstance to dictate our Christian walk. Our tests come to make us strong James 1:2-3 says “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, know that the testing of your faith produces patience.” The “judges” are like people all around looking at us expecting us do to our best. Some may not believe in our abilities but we can prove them wrong if we concentrate and are determined. Daily we are judged on presentation, taste and creativity. In regards to presentation in our Christian walk, think about this, do people see Christ in the way we present ourselves? Are we tasteful in our lifestyle as to win other to Christ? Are we creative enough to know how to witness different types of people and encourage them to follow Christ? 

If you ask me The Word of God is like the kitchen because in it we can find everything we could possibly need to survive and make it to the end of this “life’s competition.” The devil’s advocate though is the clock. We must realize that time is short. Jesus is soon to come, and though His word declares in Matt. 25:13 “Watch therefore, for you know not the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming.” It behooves us to be prepared because once the clock runs out there will be no “do-overs.”  Finally the grand prize is eternal life, and I believe we all want that! So in the competition of life where do you stand? Will you be the victor in the end or will you allow yourself to be “Chopped?”

 Think about it.

"Don't Pray & Worry!"

Ever heard the saying, “Pray about everything and worry about nothing,” or how about the saying, “Don’t pray and worry?” Well they may sound like clichés but I have found them to ring very true in life. In our lives we may face obstacles or situations that look like they have no solution. It is at these times that we should know to pray seeking our God for the answers.

No matter how smart you are or how many degrees or talents you may have, there will come a day that you are confronted by a problem that your intelligence cannot solve. Sometimes it’s just easier to worry or ponder over a situation than it is to pray and believe God. So many times we want to fix things ourselves so much we will overlook the fact that we have a God who is more than able to take control and handle every situation or circumstance a million times better than we can even fathom.

I know because I recently found myself worrying and pondering over a situation instead of praying. My husband was concerned when my worrying began to change my outlook on life and I began opening the door to depression. Instead of giving me a long speech, though he did share words of encouragement, he sent me a text, and it simply said, “Matthew 6!” The next day I read Matthew chapter 6 and God’s word began to regenerate my “measure” of faith. Verse 31-33 really stuck out to me. “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

After reading those verses I made up my mind that I would continue to pray but would stop praying and worrying. I didn’t receive what I was believing God for instantly, but instantly the word comforted my heart and reminded me what I’m praying to someone who is much more capable of supplying my need than I could ever be!

Think about it!